“God should have a nicer house,” thought David as he admired his own upgraded cedar-built accommodations. He felt embarrassed to be living in a swanky new house while the ark of God’s presence still dwelled in a shabby little tent. After a long period of fighting battles and living on the run, David might have also surmised that building God a permanent house would bring stability.
Pastors today might set out to build their local church with a similar mix of noble and self-protective motivations. Embarrassed by the glaring insufficiencies of aging church buildings, weak volunteer bases, and shrinking budgets, we might throw ourselves deeply into restructuring programs and improving services—both for the glory of God and the sustainability of the church. Those in our congregations might eagerly affirm our drive to build. We might expect God to bless every plan we make toward that end.
David expected God to bless his building plans. But instead, the God who had condescended to meet with his people in rugged mountains and desert landscapes told David he wasn’t looking for a fancy house. In fact, God announced he would instead build David a “house,” an eternal kingdom from David’s biological line (2 Sam. 7:11). He would have his son, Solomon, build a glorious temple. But then centuries later, he would lay the cornerstone for an everlasting spiritual temple. God’s own Son would take on the punishment for sins so that his holy presence would make its dwelling place within the fragile hearts of those who believe.
“Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast” (Heb. 3:6).
If “God is the builder” of his house (Heb. 3:3), what role do church leaders play in that great project? They work to build up the faith of the believers so that they can hold firmly to their confidence and hope in Christ. They serve to “equip God’s people for the works of service so that the body of Christ might be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13). The Apostle Paul’s vision of the unified, mature body that fully resembles Christ is a vision of God’s house. As inadequate as each member might look by human standards, God has made them all “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5) in his perfect design. So church leaders are called to the long, patient work of discipleship that nudges each stone toward its great purpose—to “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” through their lives (1 Pet. 2:5).
God’s house of living stones can’t be built through a pastor’s skills or charisma. Even the most impressive ministry initiatives won’t move our congregations toward the fullness of Christ. Since it’s the Spirit of God who builds God’s house (Ps. 127:1), the most essential activity in our lives and ministries is prayer. Church leaders need to seek God regularly, asking him to work powerfully in the lives of their congregations. And all ministries should be aligned with God’s vision of his house as a “house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7, Mark 11:17) with the goal of drawing people into deeper communion with Christ.
As these new candidates enter ministry, may the Lord keep them rooted in prayer and devoted to the work of equipping, so that the living stones of God’s house overflow with the presence of Christ.