Welcome!
Today: Building “my” City or God’s?
Passage: Gen 11
4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Gen 11, NIV 84)-emphasis added
After the flood, man increased in number and advanced in skills and technology; they wanted to build their own City/Tower. (People get crazy about the buildings that reach upto the sky. If possible, they want those buildings to touch heaven!)
Unfortunately, they forget that God made man as well as the earth
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,[b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Gen 1, NIV 84)-emphasis added
Compare the verse from Gen 1 above and the verse from Gen 11. When man built a city/tower, the intentions were selfish and full of pride. But when God made man, He was unselfish. God wanted man to rule over everything. God wanted man to be blessed and stay blessed, and that was a blessing for God as well!
Today, man does the same as they did in Gen 11. Even many churches and organizations are “built” using God’s name, but for man’s glory and profits. That is like the “tower of Babel”, to God. But if God is the focus and God’s will and name is first, no work should perish. Such works will have God’s blessing upon it
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5, NIV 84)- emphasis added
Every day, I hear advertisements/commercials in the Christian radio about companies that use God’s name to get customers. In the end, the goal is money.
Before we do anything, it will be good to run a test on ourselves!
“Am I doing it for my own benefit or for God?”
If done sincerely, we will find that we had our own “hidden” agendas/goals, in most cases. If that is the case, better abandon the plan and run to God. Start from scratch, with God. He will bless and multiply it!
Many preachers come to the US from countries like India and go back “blessed”. But then I was listening to this man Glen Bandonsky yesterday. He often goes to India, to minister. When they go from here, nobody, but God alone “blesses” them. They spent their time, money and everything sacrificially, for God’s glory.
May we have the attitude of Christ, in everything we do
Have a nice day
BG
Prayer: Father God, I come to you as I am. I admit that I had my own personal agendas/goals behind many things I was doing. Help me to do that which you want me to do; you did everything for me, nothing for you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen
“What is done sacrificially for God becomes an asset; what is done selfishly, becomes a liability”