Building the Kingdom
Reflections from 1 Chronicles 29
The New Testament talks a lot about the kingdom of God. In fact, the word kingdom is mentioned 162 times. The apostle Matthew uses the word kingdom 55 times.
So apparently it’s important.
Recently I was reading 1 Chronicles which gives a brief account of the establishment of the kingdom of Israel. King David expands their territory and builds an enormous palace for himself. He also wants to build a temple for the Lord, a place for God’s presence. The Lord gives him the plans but tells him his son Solomon will build the temple.
The temple was to house the presence of the Lord. It was a place for God to be with His people. The Lord’s glorious presence is no longer confined to one location. Because of what Jesus did, the presence of the Lord moves through His people as he dwells within us. We are one with the Lord which is what He desires. That always amazes me.
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
Here are some of my reflections on this last chapter of 1 Chronicles.
Lesson One: We’re Better Together
In 1 Chronicles 29 King David says to everyone that he’s done all he can. He’s provided the plans from the Lord, he’s given gold, silver, and bronze, he’s provided precious stones and marble. He looks to his son to complete the monumental task. But his son is young and inexperienced (verse 1). So he brings the assembly together to commission all of them to the work.
In the same way, we’re better together. We cannot even begin to believe that we can accomplish the insurmountable task of building the Kingdom of God without working together. It takes all of us – all of our skills, experience, talents, and grit.
It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Lesson Two: It Takes Freshness to Build the Kingdom
My son Solomon is young and inexperienced…
1 Chronicles 29:1
To continue building the kingdom, we can’t do things exactly the way they’ve always been done. We need a new and fresh vision.
I was recently talking with a ministry partner about this very thing. He wanted to send people out to do ministry in the forms normal for him and his congregation. As I listened, the Lord reminded me of this passage. I gently reminded him that we’re sending people to new places with different cultures. That requires a fresh vision and a new strategy. It means researching the people group, studying what parts of the culture help and what parts of the culture hinder the expansion of the kingdom in that area.
The Lord is creative. He is constantly doing new things in new ways.
So I must be open to doing new things in new ways.
Lesson Three: Be Devoted
Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God…
1 Chronicles 29:3
Building the kingdom isn’t a one-time thing. It isn’t something I also do. Building the kingdom is all-consuming. It is all I do. Because building the kingdom means bringing glory to the Lord and that is the ultimate goal (Rev. 21:9-11).
Therefore, I must be completely devoted to building the kingdom of God.
Lesson Four: Be Selfless
…over and above everything I have provided for this temple
1 Chronicles 29:3
David’s devotion to the building of the temple went beyond just wanting to see it come to fruition. He selflessly gave. Scripture tells us he went above and beyond.
This tells me I need to give selflessly. I need to give my finances. I need to give my talents and gifts. I need to give my time. Let’s be honest, none of it is really mine anyway. I am merely a steward of what the Lord has entrusted to me. I’m only giving back what already belongs to him.
But if I am truly devoted to building the Kingdom, then the next logical step is to selflessly give.
Lesson Five: Be Willing
“Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?”
Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
1 Chronicles 29:5-6
It’s not enough to be devoted. It’s not enough to give. To be truly selfless, I have to be willing. Willing to lay everything down for the sake of the building of the kingdom.
Lesson Six: Rejoice
The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
1 Chronicles 29:9
When we are devoted, selfless, and willing, we can rejoice because God’s kingdom will be built. When we see others being devoted, selfless, and willing we can rejoice because God’s kingdom is being built. Celebrate! This is a big deal. This has eternal significance. This is what’s truly important. This deserves our celebration.
When we truly rejoice and share our rejoicing out of humility, then that can inspire others to do the same. Our testimony of selfless, willing devotion to the kingdom can speak to the hearts of others which builds the Kingdom even greater.
Look what the Lord is doing! Members of churches where we live give their entire life savings to build their church. The first global missions offering was taken here recently. People are being called to the unreached which expands God’s kingdom where it is not. It’s amazing!
Lesson Seven: Do the Work
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.
1 Chronicles 28:20
David is telling Solomon (and as I reflected on this verse, the Lord is telling me) to do the work. Stay focused. Stay the course. The Lord is faithful and the work will be completed. One day, people from every tribe and tongue will be around the throne of God (Rev. 7:9). The work will be completed. I just need to keep working.
I need to keep working on the task that the Lord has given to ME. Not what he has given someone else. My joyful obedience to the leading of the Lord means I am building the kingdom. That’s all it takes. Building the kingdom isn’t complicated.
But it does require faithfulness.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
Revelation 21:3
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