Building Time, Family Time 1 Kings 5:1-14 Read Now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well. So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the LORD told him, Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name. Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians! When Hiram received Solomons message, he was very pleased and said, Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel. Then he sent this reply to Solomon: I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need. . . . So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace. Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. ((1 Kings 5:4-8, 12-14)) Reflect When David offered to build a Temple, God said no through the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 7:1-17). God wanted a peacemaker, not a warrior, to build his house of prayer (1 Chronicles 28:2-3). Solomon was the man for the job. Solomon drafted three times the number of workers needed for the Temple project and then arranged their schedules so they didnt have to be away from home for long periods of time. This showed his concern for the welfare of his workers and the importance he placed on family life. The strength of a nation is in direct proportion to the strength of its families. Solomon wisely recognized that family should always be a top priority. Respond As you structure your own work or arrange the schedules of others, watch for the impact of your plans on your family and those of others. How will you show the same priority Solomon had for family time?
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 12:33:41 +0000
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