Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Builders

Exodus 31:1-11

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.” (Exodus 31:1-5) 

God specifically called Bezaleel to the work of constructing the Tabernacle.  He filled him with the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, to guide him in understanding how to do each of the different things.  Most of the time we think only of Moses or the priests as having been called by God, but God has a particular calling for each person, and the Holy Spirit equips them for that calling.  One of the most serious failings of the modern church is the failure to recognize that our occupation should be itself a ministry using the gifts God has given us for his glory.  People who are not going into church work are left with the impression it really doesn’t matter what they do, with the result the focus is on the level of remuneration, rather than on what God has called them to do.  How many have been pressured to go into the ministry when God called them to some other work?

“And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,  And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.” (Exodus 31:6-11) 

Not only had God called Bezaleel as the manager, but he had chosen Aholiab as construction supervisor and various others as foremen and given them special areas of expertise.  Bezaleel could not do the entire project himself, but was dependent on others to do their part.  In the church, the individual members are just as important as the pastor, even though they may not get as much recognition.  I Corinthians 12 describes much the same situation in the church.

"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 


For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 


But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 


For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12:11-25)

We have failed our young people in not encouraging them to find the career God has called them to because we considered only a few occupations relevant.  There ought be no schism or differentiation between occupations in the church, any more than there should be between races.  Galatians 3:28 says that in in Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Each is of equal importance.

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