How does Solomon's temple construction inspire excellence in our service to God today? Framing the Moment 1 Kings 7:15 says, “He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.” Those towering bronze columns—named Jachin and Boaz—were not structural necessities; they were statements of majesty. Their very presence tells us that when it comes to the worship of the living God, ordinary will not do. The Pursuit of Skilled Craftsmanship • The pillars required expert metalwork, precise measurements, and painstaking effort. • Solomon hired Hiram of Tyre, “filled with wisdom, understanding, and skill in all kinds of bronze work” (1 Kings 7:14). • God had previously empowered Bezalel and Oholiab the same way (Exodus 31:1-6). • Excellence in craft is therefore Spirit-enabled, not merely human perfectionism. Excellence Reflects God’s Character • “As for God, His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31). • The temple’s splendor mirrored the perfection of the One who would be worshiped there. • Our service today carries the same call: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Excellence Requires Thoughtful Preparation • Stones for the temple were “finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel was heard in the house while it was being built” (1 Kings 6:7). • Solomon accumulated materials long before construction (1 Chronicles 22:5). • Planning, learning, and disciplined practice honor God just as much as the finished product. Bringing Excellence into Everyday Work • Set clear goals: excellence begins with intentionality. • Hone your gifts: take the course, read the book, seek the mentor. • Guard integrity: quality without honesty collapses like a hollow pillar. • Finish well: unfinished tasks communicate an unfinished devotion. • Offer the result to God, not to ego. Excellence Springs from an Undivided Heart • “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). • Half-hearted service produces half-finished pillars; wholehearted love produces beauty (Matthew 22:37). Excellence Is Spirit-Empowered • “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them” (1 Corinthians 12:4). • Ask the Spirit to breathe life into ordinary tasks, turning them into acts of worship. A Living Temple of Excellence • “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). • “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). • When believers bring Spirit-filled excellence to every assignment, the world encounters the beauty and glory once seen in Solomon’s bronze pillars—now embodied in God’s people. |
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