The importance of preparation
Today’s scripture is 1 Chronicles 22:1-5
1 Chronicles 22:1-5
22 Then David said, “The house of the Lord God(A) is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
Preparations for the Temple
2 So David gave orders to assemble the aliens(B) living in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters(C) to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. 3 He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.(D) 4 He also provided more cedar logs(E) than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.
5 David said, “My son Solomon is young(F) and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor(G) in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.
The context of today’s scripture is that David has been told by God that he cannot build the temple for the Lord because he has spilled too much blood. Because David feels that Solomon is too young to make adequate preparations for the building of the temple, David himself begins to gather all of the materials needed to build a temple of splendor for the Lord.
David gathered bronze and cedar logs and had stonecutters prepare large stones for the building of the temple. He provided such large quantities of these materials that it is speculated he had acquired many of them as spoils of the wars he had fought. All of this was done in David’s old age and just prior to his death.
Have you ever felt God was calling you to do something, and in your eagerness to please God you rushed in without proper preparation? Failure to prepare is more common that one might think, particularly in kingdom pursuits. Why? Perhaps one reason is that some people believe if it is God’s will and God’s plan, then God will provide. However, such an approach often produces shoddy results, which most certainly is not part of God’s plan.
Having faith that God will provide and therefore failing to make preparations for what God has set before you is like walking a tightrope. You might begin with confidence, carefully placing one foot in front of the other, but before too long the distance seems to have lengthened and your balance becomes unsteady.
I teach adult Bible studies and although there have been occasions when I had to teach without adequate preparation, when I know I am to teach I spend hours in the Word and in planning and preparing the lesson. I believe both the class and my God deserve the time I devote to this endeavor.
Has God called you into service? Whether your job is greeting on Sunday morning or helping folks find a parking place, or teaching, preparation is vital to the success of what God has called you to do. If you are greeting, do not be so concerned about what you will wear that you fail to get to church on time, and thus your spirit is in turmoil and your greeting is less than cheerful. If you are helping people park, make sure you do it with a smile on your face and a willing spirit. If you are teaching, ask God to give you new and fresh insights into His word.
Col. 3:23 tells us that whatever we do, do it with all of our heart as if working for the Lord. May you today and every day prepare and work with one goal in mind–pleasing the Lord. God bless you as you seek to accomplish His will.
Seeking Holiness 