Clean up

 

Clean up 1 Kings 6:15-38

Confession: I take caring for the sanctuary and church grounds more seriously than I let on. It bothers me to see props from last year's Christmas pageant laying around. There's always a room (or three) full of junk no one dares throw away. Used tissues in the pews. A disorganized and messy narthex. And may God forgive us for our church refrigerators. Excellence isn't about what you have. It's about what you do with what you have. So, take care of your church facilities. It says something about what you think happens there. No, don't go overboard and prohibit ministry from happening--leave the youth group alone! But concern yourself with what message your level of care sends. Now, is this really a discipleship issue? Maybe. Maybe not. It's certainly an exercise in gratitude. And didn't Jesus say something about being trusted with the little things (Luke 16:10)? We have a different understanding of what the house of God means than, say, Solomon. For ancient people of faith, the temple was where God intersected with the world. God didn't live there because heaven is God's throne and the earth is God's footstool (Isaiah 66:1). But in a real way it was God's address. People gathered not for themselves, but to honor God's presence. It makes sense why Solomon put such great care into constructing the temple. I bet he wouldn't stand for church clutter. Now, we are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Like taking care of our churches and facilities, taking care of our bodies is a form of thanksgiving. And our physical and soul care relate to the fruit we bear in Jesus' name. How we care for ourselves says something about what we think God is doing within us. Think of it this way, what can grow in infertile land? Our intimate connection to our friend Jesus is what allows us to bear fruit (John 15:16). And, in a way, the fruit we learn to bear is Jesus' cleaning up our temple. Stay blessed...john