DON'T QUIT BECAUSE YOU ARE OLD. 1st Chronicles 22 Old age tends to make us look back at the past with nostalgic fondness rather than forward with optimism. Because of our humanity, we live in a "now" instead of seeing the bigger picture of the past, present, and future as an "eternal now" in God's eyes. Old age tends to smooth out the sharp edges of the rough rocks that we are by nature. However, we are not finished until God says we are finished.
David, a man after God's own heart, saw what others did not for various reasons. From the pasture to the palace, he experienced life from a wide perspective. He understood what it meant to be overlooked as insignificant and praised as a hero. He had been loved and hated, hunted like an animal, and heralded as a king. He faced both victory and defeat. He endured being lied about and misrepresented, yet his words held weight for millions.
David identified the location where the temple was to be built. He could almost envision it in his mind's eye. No longer will there be dust and dirt from business on Mount Moriah. The threshing floor would serve as the foundation for the house of the Lord God of Israel. An altar was there, with the scent of burning flesh and incense ignited by fire that fell from heaven. After failures and fear, and after sackcloth and humble, face-down repentance, blessings would come to that place.
The house of God today is not filled with perfect people but with those who have been forgiven and set apart as a kingdom of priests. They worship and serve as one body of believers in a local "place" where the Lord Jesus Christ calls us to meet with Him, and He is "in the midst of them." Not all materials in the house of God are alike, nor are all who labor there meant to do the same things. The "work of an evangelist" is definitely a work. When one is alone or a few work together, far from their home "place," there can be times when they may feel sorry for themselves if they forget to look at the big picture. The commission from our Lord is to "go and make disciples...," not to stay and wait for people to come to us and ask how to be disciples.
The laborers in the forest and quarries each had unique work suited to them. Some engaged in the hard, back-breaking labor of gathering raw materials. Once the rocks are roughly cut from the quarry and the trees from the forest are felled, they must be shaped. When copper, tin, iron, silver, and gold are extracted from the earth, they need to be refined. Some are skilled in hewing rocks, sawing lumber, and refining metal, and they must go to work and ply their trade to transform basic materials into works of useful beauty.
Similarly, we are all to be "workers together" as the house of God is built and maintained. All the gifts and talents of God's people can find a place to be used if the workers actively engage in their tasks. The diversity of people is essential for the purposes of the local assembly. There are principles that ensure this diversity functions properly and in unity. A plan and a pattern exist to follow. Planning ahead for any work preserves the unity of the people under the leadership of the Spirit and the work of God. The plans are clear. Coordinating the gifts for a unified purpose is the responsibility of those overseeing the work.
When the materials were found, each item required personal attention. The iron nails would have been handcrafted to the correct size for a specific purpose. Smaller nails would have been used to make doors and to secure hanging gate hinges. The combination of copper and tin would be heated and carefully monitored until the right amounts of each could be combined to achieve the desired strength and color. Cedar logs would need to be cut to uniform sizes to create the appropriate kind of structure. Each stone would have to fit correctly with the surrounding stones. The work of God should not be done haphazardly.
Those in scripturally gathered assemblies of believers need to recognize that carelessness can introduce weakness into the entire community. Teachers and their teachings can quickly make or break the testimony of an assembly. Paul urged those who build on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, fundamental doctrines, to be dedicated to taking the time necessary to refine the gold and silver, and to excavate the precious stones. "Wood, hay and stubble" can be found on the internet or in books written by individuals. It may be expedient, and look and sound fine, but it does not withstand the test of fire, either now for current use or in the day of recompense.
It’s not only about what we build regarding the materials we use, but also about how we build and the manner in which it’s done. Scriptural truth that is forcefully imposed on people is often rejected outright due to the way it’s presented. When the truth is shared patiently and carefully, with compassion and faithfulness, it’s much easier for listeners to accept than a confrontational, aggressive presentation.
David was old but not done. Rather than fighting battles, he wanted to build a house for the Lord God. However, his previous work for the Lord had involved confrontations with enemies for most of his life. Bloodshed and conflict contradicted the purpose of this house, which was for the Lord's name. David was not jealous, but zealous.
We all have our limitations for one reason or another. Some may be of our own making, while others stem from divine sovereignty. These limitations should not prevent us from doing what we can for the benefit of others who may achieve far greater things than we could ever do. As we age, our perspective significantly broadens, allowing us to view the world in a more scriptural way and to look beyond our lives to appreciate the value of the work and potential of others. Younger people who follow can benefit if we share what we have learned with those who want to listen.
It is our duty to do what we can for the next generation. We must pass on what we have gathered over a lifetime of living for the Lord. We need to strive to see things through their eyes rather than insisting they view things through ours. When we do our part in the work of the Lord, He can unite the variety of gifts, age differences, and assigned responsibilities to make the house of God a wonderful dwelling place for Him and His people. It could be a place of wonder for those looking on from the outside. Hopefully, the uniqueness of a scripturally gathered assembly prompts those who wonder how it can function without man-made organization to consider the word of God and its application to them.
Solomon was likely a teenager when all those materials were prepared and gathered for the "place." He had older brothers who resented both him and his mother. As a peace-loving person, he was accustomed to the finer things in life. He probably had never killed anyone, nor had anyone hunted him with the intent to kill. Unlike David, he did not share a vision of the promised kingdom, but his father had told him of a coming King who would reign forever. This is the only specific reference to our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of 1st Chronicles. There is coming One who is "greater than Solomon." Though he appeared to live only for the present, God utilized him as a builder and bestowed upon him a special gift of wisdom, along with riches and honor.
We can learn important lessons about mentoring from David's words to Solomon. Solomon was given a charge, signifying that a serious matter is at hand. When delivered earnestly, the recipient of the charge understands that this is no small issue. David also explained his limitations and why God could not use him to build the temple, clarifying for Solomon why this task was assigned to him and when it was to be accomplished. The magnitude of the work and the urgency to execute it correctly made it clear to the young man that much was expected of him. Everything he needed was available for him to begin "the work." He was to supervise the workmen and apply his wisdom as a builder, not just as a counselor.
David's life's work was complete. Now it was time for Solomon to take action. Those princes (leaders) experienced peace after the wars were over, but they were not to become complacent, sitting back and simply enjoying what they had for themselves. "Statutes and judgments" are divine decrees and laws that originate not only from Moses but also from the Lord through Moses. Solomon considered personal matters that we must also address ourselves.
We need to be wise and discreet as we live for God. Understanding things and achieving the desired results requires time and concentration. For this to resonate with us rather than merely be a natural inclination, we must study and apply the word of God. Success comes when we approach the work of the Lord with a positive attitude, stemming from the strength and courage He provides. Fear and discouragement arise when we rely solely on ourselves or face criticism from others.
Let us pray that God grants those who come after us the fortitude and vision needed to accomplish greater things for the Lord than we could ever achieve. There are others with whom we do not share the same ties or affinity, yet they are important to God and His work. We can encourage and challenge them to support the work and those who lead it. They need to get involved, stay engaged, and have everyone participate wholeheartedly.
Tranquility has conditions that we must uphold. We need to maintain our commitment to God's purposes, not merely rest at ease with life's temporary pleasures. The work of God continues and will persist until the Lord returns. Then there will be rest in the kingdom of peace, but it will not be filled with a lazy group of people devoid of meaning in our existence. We must not cease until the work of building is complete. Following that, we will focus on maintaining what we have and advancing kingdom work to the glory of the "Name of the Lord."
Work that requires attention needs visionaries who know how to address it and can make wise decisions. Resources are abundant and available, but grasping the big picture is difficult unless one considers the entire completed structure. To understand what is expected of each laborer in their respective work areas, one must visualize what God imagines as a whole. He selects each individual or group for a specific, often challenging task. Therefore, the visionary leader comprehends the reasons for their active involvement in the task at hand.
However, knowing what to do is not enough. To accomplish a designated task, one must be able to inspire people to leave behind what they are doing that is of minor consequence and rise up to build for God. Because of the commission we have been given and the need to advance the affairs of God’s kingdom, which require our attention, we must press on with His work. We need leaders who understand the times and the needs until this day of grace is over. We need those who can rally God’s people, to whom the people will pay attention.
Another time of visitation is needed right here. The saints need to arise and build; material nearby is waiting to be harvested, shaped, or mined. We need leadership to challenge us to reach our potential. There have been times of dearth and times of visitation in the past. We need to be revived to arise and build a work that lasts. The Lord is the same; new material can be found all around us. There is abounding sin here, and this is where grace can much more abound.
The harvest is plentiful, yet there seem to be few laborers. However, those we need must learn to shape and hew the material, bringing it into a form that fits the living stones around it and can be put to good use. We require young strength to arise and build – we need unafraid laborers who will venture into the field to seek what God has for them to dig for and bring to the house being built to honor His name.