2 Chronicles 34: 8 – 13

See here in today’s reading:

  • The necessity for repair (8, 11): The Temple had been allowed to fall into ruin (allowed to fall to pieces. The Message.) Remember, that as a Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Don’t be negligent in your self-care. A spiritual life that is not maintained will eventually show signs of neglect. Internal walls in your soul can crumble and you end up a ruin.
  • Giving to the work (9): God’s work in this world requires the generosity of God’s people. I believe that ‘God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.’ Whenever a significant work of God is taking place it will show itself on the financial graphs and charts and statements. Of course it will be manifest in other ways. But when the giving is good it almost invariably points to a significant work of grace in the hearts of believers.
  • Paying the workers (10): The labourer is always ‘worthy of his hire.’ In certain circumstances he/she may choose to forgo that right, but as a general rule, those on the building site should receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
  • Paying for the materials (11): In the growth of a work of God, attention to administrative details is important. This may seem somewhat mundane, but there are all sorts of practical things that must be attended to if the work is to progress.
  • Working faithfully (12a): The temple would not have been repaired without the spiritual vision, insight and leadership that came from Josiah.  That was crucial. He was a real reformer. Nor would the temple have been restored without the generous giving of the people, who ‘dug deep’ to make it happen. But it wouldn’t have occurred either without willing workers who rolled up their sleeves and got on with what was necessary. Every pastor is thankful for ‘faithful’ workers. They may not have a high profile. They may not necessarily have charismatic personalities. But day after day, whatever the weather, they turn up on the ‘site’ with their ‘tools’ and they make their unique contribution to the project.
  • Supervising skilfully (12b, 13): Thankfully, the Levites didn’t take the attitude, ‘We’re in the worship band. We’re the rock stars around here. We only want to play our guitars and sing, so don’t bother us with anything else!’ Instead, they were prepared to multi-task. Sometimes an area of service opens up, and you walk towards it because you see there is a ‘gap’ and you are prepared to help. There was a need for godly, visionary leadership; there was a need for cash; there was a need for reliable workers and appropriate materials. But there was also a need for management. The Levites ‘project managed’ the job. The Levites –they were all skilled musicians – were in charge of the common laborers and supervised the workers as they went from job to job. The Levites also served as accountants, managers, and security guards. The Message. There comes a time when a need presents itself and you just have to step up to the mark. In this way; with such a spirit, things get done.

Prayer: Lord, show me my place on the building site, and help me to fill it, with excellence.