QUALITY                                                                                                        Posted 10.25.07

1 Kings 7

Though it wasn’t our focus in chapter 6, the high quality materials and craftsmanship defining the temple were obvious. I entered chapter 7 expecting to emphasize the importance of building “our temple” (our bodies/lives) with high quality materials – purity, morality, integrity, etc. While that would make a great lesson, God spoke to me more strongly about His desire for a high quality relationship with us.

My visual illustrations at Bible study were a plate and a mug that my daughters made for me. The mug says, “I love mom” and the plate says, “Happy 23rd anniversary.” While I know the shop they painted them in uses excellent materials, the quality of those gifts results from my girls’ love. I treasure them as “high quality” because I know they had me in their heart as they spent hours painting them.

God wants us to have Him in our hearts as He builds our lives.

Be Patient (Read 1 Kings 7:1)
The first aspect of a high quality relationship with God is patience. In our fast food, instant messaging, high-speed society, we must grasp the concept that God’s timing and speed can vary greatly from ours.

I wonder if Solomon thought his home would take less time to build due to the previous experience with the temple. Kind of a “been there, done that, surely this will be easier now.” But it wasn’t. It took nearly twice as long and encompassed not just one home but an entire estate, including a judicial building and a separate palace for his wife.

Did the project grow as they went along? We don’t know those details, but we do know he kept moving forward. What is God building in your life? Is something taking longer than you anticipated? God challenges us in verse 1 to be patient. Rushing nearly always results in poor quality. Don’t rush through your experiences with God. Enjoy them. Enjoy Him. You won’t be sorry.

Be the Same High Quality Person All the Time (Read 1 Kings 7:2-12)
These verses give us dimensions, shapes, and other interesting facts, but notice the parallels with the temple. The same high quality materials are used. Cedar and high-grade stones, the products used in the temple, create a large estate that includes Solomon’s palace (his home) and the Hall of Justice (his work). Solomon is committed to excellence in all aspects of his life. Are you? Where does your quality vary?

Often we promote strong Christian values at church but fail to live them out or even encourage them at home or in the workplace. The boss who leads the deacons at church and gives himself to the Lord generously there, but treats his employees with disrespect, belligerence, and unfairness lacks consistency in his relationship with God. The high quality is sorely missing at the office. The woman who blesses her co-workers with homemade treats and unlimited friendship but ignores or neglects her children’s needs is no different – she’s lowered the standards at home. What would a quality review reveal in different areas of your life?

Solomon sets a great example here that even he will not uphold. But God can succeed through us as we trust in Him. How can you improve the quality of your relationship with God and His call on your life with others?

Be a Complete Worker (Read 1 Kings 7:13-22)
Huram is introduced here as a highly skilled and reliable worker. If you read the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 2:13-14, the king sings his praises, “I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill…He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your craftsman…” What a job recommendation!

You may say, “But I don’t have the skills he had.” God gives gifts and skills to all! (1 Corinthians 12) In Exodus 31:1-6, God makes certain we know these abilities are from Him.

God is building in your life and has equipped you for His plans. What kind of worker will you be for Him?

Huram was multi-ethnic which in those days was not looked upon favorably. His mother was Jewish, his father was Gentile. He did not let prejudices hinder God’s call on his life.

He was also well rounded as he had no problem performing the hard labor (casting pillars and capitals) or the delicate jobs (decorating the capitals). No job too small; no job too large. And he was not a quitter. We repeatedly read how he finished the work and all that was assigned to him. Huram was a complete worker. Are you?

Finally, let’s look at the symbolism behind some of his work. The pomegranates represent growth and joy. Are you enjoying God’s work in your life?

Because of their numerous seeds, they emphasize fruitfulness. Huram probably did not even realize all the good seed he was sowing through his faithful work in Israel. Many would worship and fellowship with the God of Israel because of his work ethic. What seed are you sowing?

My friend’s mother-in-law died, and I attended the funeral. Before the service, the Lord put a scripture verse on my heart to write down on an index card and give to my friend that day. Well, I did it and never thought about it again.

Months later I met a woman who had served a meal to my friend’s family the day of that funeral. She found out about the verse I gave my friend and was so moved by its appropriateness to the situation (I don’t even remember which verse it was!) she began preparing multiple laminated and decorated copies of that scripture to pass out at each family meal she served for the bereavement ministry of her church. God used her to create an entire ministry out of one barely thrown seed of mine. God can do anything.

The lilies represent life, growth, and beauty. God’s work in our life is a beautiful masterpiece to Him!

The pillars represent strength and stability. Huram named them Jakin, which means “He establishes,” and Boaz which means “in Him is strength.” He seems completely in tune with God’s heart for these projects. Are you? What is God’s heart for the different areas of your life: your family, your job, your ministry, your relationships?