Read 1 Kings 7 esv
Verses chosen for devotion
7 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.
Reflect
1 Kings 7 mentioned a great details of how Solomon built his house. The size was magnificent and the materials used were of top notch quality. He spared no effort in making his Palace as splendour as it could be v2-v12. One could argue that his palace was larger v2, v6 than the temple 1 Kings 6:2. It also took 7 years to build the Temple (1 Kings 6:38) while Solomon’s palace took almost double the time to build. Then one may ask why it took much longer to build Solomon’s house? Was it because he spent more effort and attention to get it done since it was his own house? But from what we have read from earlier chapters it seems to imply that Solomon built the house of the Lord before building his own so altogether it took him 20 years to complete both projects (also refer to 1 Kings 9:10). Hence we could see that Solomon prioritised the building of the Temple over his own palace. Perhaps the massive preparation effort (even from the time of his father David) had further helped to expedite the Temple project and its completion (therefore it took 6 years lesser to complete compared to Solomon’s own house).
Relate
We are often faced with difficult choices to prioritise between doing God’s work and our own (time for myself versus time for God). This is very true too when it comes to our own financial resources (my money versus God’s money). The choices can be very difficult. I am suffering from an eye condition when I am writing this devotion. The condition makes it difficult for one of my eye to focus and read. So the choice I have is to excuse myself and take a break. Or I can rely on God’s strength and wisdom to continue writing. Many times we heard of the reasons why people could not serve in church due to having family or work commitments. Those concerns are valid because we all have families and finances to take care of. To be very honest I gave the same reasons as well each time when there was a need for church volunteers. But if I look at Solomon’s example in taking priority to build God’s temple, it reminded me that he was simply using what God has blessed him with (wealth, wisdom and resources) to build what belongs to God. God gave us our families, our jobs and financial resources so shouldn’t we use the same to bless God’s work? God gave me my vision so even when it is not perfect now I will use it to write this devotion and prayerfully it will benefit others who read this.
Rest
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Alan Wong
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