BE A WISE BUILDER

“And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:40 NKJV).

 

We all are builders whether we realize it or not. We are constantly building somebody or something. Our buildings could be our own lives, children, families, homes, careers, businesses, or ministries.

Although God gives us somebody or something to build, yet He is the builder of all things.

The Scripture states, “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” (Heb. 3:4 RSV).

Therefore, whenever God calls us to build for Him; He is simply calling us into building partnership with Him.

As co-builders with God, we are not expected to build anything independently of God. Sadly, many people today are building without any respect to God – His plan, process, pattern, principle, or purpose.

Although everybody is a builder, not everybody is a wise builder!

How do you know if you are a wise or a foolish builder?

There are primarily two ways to know: by the tests of life and by God’s response!

First, if you are a wise builder who builds according to God’s plan or pattern, following God’s instructions and principles, what you build will withstand the tests, trials or pressures of life.

No matter what comes against your life, marriage, home, family, career, business, or ministry, if it is built on God’s solid foundation and according to God’s pattern, it will stand and not fall apart, crumble or collapse.

The Lord Jesus aptly explains this truth in the Parable of the Two Builders.

Matthew 7:

 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

 25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

 27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (NKJV).

You are a wise builder if you are conforming wholly to Jesus’ teaching and example!

Many marriages, homes, families, businesses and ministries are crumbling and falling apart today not because Satan has become wiser, stronger, or fiercer in his attacks than he used to be, but simply because many are building independently of God and in utter disregard for God’s building plans, patterns and principles.

When a believer chooses to build, run, or manage his marriage, home, family, business or career according to the wisdom, pattern, ways or principles of this world, whatever he builds cannot withstand the attacks of the devil or the pressures of life, but will eventually fall apart and collapse (Matt. 7:26-27).

Second, you can know if you are a wise or foolish builder by God’s attitude or response to what you have built.

If God takes delight in what you have built and fill it with His awesome presence and glory, then you are a wise builder.

When it was time to rebuild the temple, God said to the children of Israel, “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD.” (Hag. 1:8 NKJV).

For the believers, the ultimate end or purpose of whatever we build is God’s glory. Therefore, if God rejects what you have built and refuses to fill it with His presence, then you are a foolish builder and have not built according to God’s pattern.

Sadly, God’s awesome glory or presence is visibly absent today in many Christian homes, families, careers, businesses, or ministries. This is simply showing that we are not building today according to God’s plans, patterns and principles.

God always shows His delight and approval of anything we build according to His specifications, plans or principles by indwelling and filling it with His awesome presence and glory.

Before Moses started to build the tabernacle for God in the wilderness, he was called up unto the mountain where God showed him the divine design, plan, pattern or specification for His tabernacle.

Afterwards, Moses was instructed thus: “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exo. 25:40 NKJV).

Was Moses a wise or a foolish builder?

Consider God’s response or attitude towards what he built (Exo. 40:33-35)!

When Moses had finished building and setting up the tabernacle according to God’s specification, God showed His delight and approval by His glory filling the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:

33 And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

 34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (NKJV).

Apparently, Moses was a wise builder, for God inhabited and filled the tabernacle he built with His glory.

Likewise, when Solomon had finished building the Temple according to the divine plans and specifications delivered to him by his father David, the glory of the LORD filled the temple (1 Chro. 28:11-12).

2 Chronicles 7:

 1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.

 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.” (NKJV).

This clearly shows that Solomon was a wise builder.

It is God’s awesome presence in what you have built that actually confirms that you are a wise builder. If God’s awesome presence or glory is missing in what you have built, you are certainly not a wise builder.

Beloved, if you examine your home, marriage, family, career, business, or ministry and you cannot visibly see, perceive or discern God’s awesome presence or glory, then you are not building in conformity to God’s specification or pattern.

What then should you do?

Go up to the mountain!

Like Moses, go up into God’s presence (God’s Word) to see clearly and receive His blueprint or pattern for whatever He has called you to build for Him.

God’s perfect pattern, model, or example for all buildings today is His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-3)!

God said loud and clear from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matth. 17:5 RSV).

Friend, you can never build to God’s delight without knowing Jesus, believing in Jesus, surrendering to Jesus, listening to Jesus, obeying and following Jesus, and conforming wholly to Jesus’ teaching and example.

Jesus said, “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24 RSV).

Choose to be a wise builder today by building only on Jesus’ words and according to Jesus’ example!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Jesus Christ as the perfect pattern of how to build my life and all that You have given me to build. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to see and know Jesus deeper in the Scripture so that I can wholly conform to His pattern, in Jesus’ name. Amen.