Finally, a king who does right in the sight of the LORD, who cares about the temple, who cares about taking care of the LORD's house! The offerings that would normally go to take care of the holy things in the house of the LORD are diverted to pay for laborers to repair the house of the LORD.
It strikes me that there are many congregations today who follow this pattern to the extreme. The most important thing is always the upkeep of the house of God and the holy things are extremely neglected. Word and Sacrament relegated to incidentals compared to the new carpeting and pews that are desired by the members. I am not sure if this works for God, even if it works for the members. Of course, the building should not be neglected. However, the building is not the church. It is not the temple of God. "...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5 NIV) We need a place to gather, to Worship as members of one Body. We need a place to gather to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament; however, let us always make sure that the building has not become our god.
Just as Joash cared for the temple, it is a good thing for us to care for the gathering places of God's people. But, we cannot put the building before the temple of God. We cannot put the building before the Body of Christ. Our priority (it seems to me) should be in building up the spiritual house and not neglect the other.
It strikes me that there are many congregations today who follow this pattern to the extreme. The most important thing is always the upkeep of the house of God and the holy things are extremely neglected. Word and Sacrament relegated to incidentals compared to the new carpeting and pews that are desired by the members. I am not sure if this works for God, even if it works for the members. Of course, the building should not be neglected. However, the building is not the church. It is not the temple of God. "...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5 NIV) We need a place to gather, to Worship as members of one Body. We need a place to gather to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament; however, let us always make sure that the building has not become our god.
Just as Joash cared for the temple, it is a good thing for us to care for the gathering places of God's people. But, we cannot put the building before the temple of God. We cannot put the building before the Body of Christ. Our priority (it seems to me) should be in building up the spiritual house and not neglect the other.
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