Taking Care of the Temple

“You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the Lord of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.” – Haggai 1:9

While God does not inhabit buildings, Israel’s ancient prophets of God spoke often of the necessity of maintaining the Temple of Yahweh. This stone edifice was the center of worship under Mosaic law (representing national spirituality) and in disrepair, it matched the flagging morality, spiritual decline, and deprivation of God’s chosen people.

While a church building is nothing more than a tool for implementing God’s ministry, it too may represent the health of a congregation. While size is irrelevant, upkeep may reveal more than we like to admit. A building should never become the object of our ministry, but it certainly can reflect the state of it. Unfortunately, the same can also be said of the “temples” in which we live and breathe (as followers of Jesus Christ).

May we always take care of all of God’s “houses,” including our own.

We should understand that the body is for the Lord and not for ourselves; hence we should refrain from using it for our pleasure. Food ought not hinder our fellowship with God since it is to be taken purely to preserve the body in health. – Watchman Nee