November 28, 2024 1 Kings 7:1-12

November 28, 2024 1 Kings 7:1-12

7 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.

² He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. ³ And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. ⁴ There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. ⁵ All the doorways and windows had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.

⁶ And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them.

⁷ And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.

⁸ His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage.

⁹ All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. ¹⁰ The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. ¹¹ And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. ¹² The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the Lord and the vestibule of the house.

Sometimes when I see elaborate church buildings I wonder if that is how the money should be spent.  Would it be better to feed those who are hungry and build shelters for those who are homeless?  Help those who don’t have drinking water to dig wells maybe?  But then I remember who this temple and the church building represent. 

I’m not going to say we should always have elaborate church buildings or that we should never have elaborate churches.  But if we are going to spend money to honor anyone, let it be to honor God.  We have enough money spent to honor man, and don’t get me started on the money spent that honors the enemy!  But sometimes we don’t have money to show how much we love God…but there are many ways to honor Him.  The greatest way is through our obedience to Him. 

How can you honor God today?

As today is Thanksgiving in the United States, many are reflecting on what they have they should be thankful for.  One thing I ask you to remember this day, is WHO we should be thankful to.