Building and Upkeep

Building a house isn't easy. First you need a contractor, unless you're going to do that on your own. Lay your foundation of concrete on solid ground. Frame the floor, walls and roof. Put on the siding and shingles. Then the ducts, wiring, plumbing, and insulation need to go in before you start to drywall. Finish the ceilings. Paint the walls. Then comes the major appliances and the list goes on. Very few people have the ability to do all those steps on their own. Even if they are able to do this, their work isn't done. Upkeep to make their home continually in good condition is as big a commitment as building it.

Building the house of God isn't easy, and neither is the upkeep. Some churches that are planted fail. Ravenous wolves sometimes come in and pull people out. Assemblies can have times of tribulation. Overseers work so hard to keep things going. Members do their best to find people to come out to meetings. Numbers get small and people start to be discouraged, "Where are all the people?"

Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

In the previous paragraph in only mentioned God once, which was to do with who's house we're talking about. We must always remember it is God's house and not our own. God will keep it so long as it is pleasing to Him. If we try to build and continue on with a church, without the Lord's blessing it will fail.

When I think of watchmen, the Disney cartoon "Robin Hood" comes to mind. Trigger and Nutsy are keeping watch. "One o'clock and alllllllllllllllls weeeelllllllllllllllllllll," he would shout. Is all well in our house?

Are the members of the body working together in unity? Do we all love one another? Perhaps we are an Ephesus who has left our first love (Revelation 2:4). Maybe more of a Pergamos who is sympathetic to the Laity, or luke warm as Laodicea (Revelation 2:15, 3:16). Will the lampstand of our local church stand in the end? Prayerfully look within the church. Ensure the teaching is sound and according to the word of God. Look at the believers and encourage them in Christ. Find ways of fellowshipping with the believers outside of the regular gatherings.

Always remember that without the blessing of the Lord, our lamp will go out. Some plant and some water, but God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). All our efforts are futile without blessing from God.

"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 7:11