[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 列王紀上 1 Kings 6-7]
37 所羅門在位第四年西弗月，立了耶和華殿的根基。 38 到十一年布勒月，就是八月，殿和一切屬殿的都按着樣式造成。他建殿共用了七年。7:1 所羅門為自己建造宮殿，十三年方才建成整座宮殿。
列王紀上 1 Kings 6:37-7:1
37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it. 7:1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.
所羅門受其父親大衛王委託建造耶和華的殿；他花了七年的時間才完成它。但他卻花了幾乎兩倍的時間為自己建造一座宮殿！後來我們讀到，所羅門也為他娶的法老的女兒建造了一座類似的宮殿（列王記上 7:8）。
我們參觀的古代遺址是過去的國王建造的建築。人類歷史本身可以透過文明所建造的建築來追溯；對我們個人來說也是如此。 建築體現了建造者的心意。是的，所羅門忠實地為上帝建造了聖殿，但他投入了更多的時間、更多的精力和更多的資源來為自己建造宮殿！上帝需要提醒所羅門，比為祂建造聖殿更重要的是所羅門「論到你所建的這殿，你若遵行我的律例，謹守我的典章，遵從我的一切誡命，行在其中，我必向你應驗我所應許你父親大衛的話。 （6:12）。只有那樣，上帝才會住在祂的子民中間。
我們在世上的時間建造什麼：為上帝建造的殿宇還是為我們自己建造宮殿？答案將從我們的「資產負債表」中顯而易見：我們花了多少時間、精力和資源，以及將這些花在了什麼地方。當我走遍全國各地在教會演講時，多次當地的牧師向我透露，他們的大多數教眾都擁有不只一棟房子！擁有多棟房子並不是罪，但我們應該問自己一個問題：我們在世上的時間專注於建造什麼？我們所建造的東西具有永恆的價值還是僅僅具有暫時的價值？
當我們讀到所羅門所建造的建築時，也許會提醒我們今天要把更多的時間、精力和資源用於為上帝而不是為我們自己建造宮殿。
禱告：親愛的上帝，感謝祢賜給我們生命、才能和豐厚的財富。請幫助我們利用您所賜予的一切來建造一座供您居住的聖殿，以便祢可以居住在我們中間，而不是主要為了我們自己的名譽和享受而建造。
Solomon was entrusted by his father King David to build the house of the LORD; it took him seven years to complete it. But he spent almost twice that number of years to build a palace for himself! Later we read that Solomon also made a similar palace for Pharaoh’s daughter whom he had married (1 Kings 7:8).
The ancient ruins we visit are structures built by kings of the past. Human history itself can be traced through the structures which civilizations have built; likewise for us as individuals. The building reflects the heart of the builder. Yes, Solomon faithfully finished building the temple for God, but he dedicated even more time, more energy, and more resources towards building a palace for himself! God needed to remind Solomon that what was more important than building a temple for Him was for Solomon to “walk in [His] statutes and obey [His] rules and keep all [His[ commandments and walk in them” (6:12). Only then would God dwell among His people.
What are we building during our time on earth: a temple for God or a palace for ourselves? The answer will be evident from our “balance sheet”: how much time, energy, and resources we spend and on what we spend these. As I travel through various parts of the country to speak at churches, more than a few times local pastors have disclosed to me that the majority of their congregation own more than one house! It is not a sin to own more than one house, but the question we should ask ourselves is: what are we focused on building during our time on earth? Is what we are building of eternal value or only of temporal value?
When we read about the structures Solomon built, may we be reminded today to direct more of our time, energy, and resources towards building a temple for God rather than for ourselves.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving us our very lives, our talents, and abundant financial blessings. Please help us to use all that you have given us to build a temple for You to dwell in so You will dwell among us, instead of building something primarily for our own honor and pleasure.
感谢主！ 读了该问受到鼓舞！ 主在一次想我说话了！
感谢主！