Build Others Up

Ezra and the remnant of Israel from that day were given permission to go back home to Jerusalem to start rebuilding the Temple of the LORD.  King Cyrus of Persia gave the decree.  In this decree, he continued:

“Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:4 NLT)

Over and over again, we see that God provides what we need when we need it.  Whatever God calls us to do, God will provide what we need to do it.  We saw this with the tabernacle (with offerings from the Egyptians), the first Temple (with offerings from neighboring and far-off kingdoms), and, now, in this Temple (from the people of the Babylonian empire).

And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings. (Ezra 1:6 NLT)

Often times, we put a lot of criteria on a list before we are willing to help people and build them up.  They must be a family member, a coworker, or a friend from church.  They need to go to our church, not that other church, that other denomination, or that other religion or belief system.  Not only that, they need to be living up to a certain level of holiness.  Then, we will help.

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24 ESV)

The problem with this approach is that God doesn’t set those criteria.  We do.  To be sure, God tells us to love our spiritual brothers and sisters in the Church.  But God also tells us to love our neighbors, even when they don’t go to our church (like the good Samaritan).  We are even told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  That’s because God doesn’t put parameters around doing good.  God doesn’t hold us back from helping.  God always, always, always calls us to love and build others up.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV84)

How about you?  Are you a part of God’s Temple, being built as a dwelling for the Holy Spirit?  Do you build up God’s Temple?  Do you build others up?