Living Stones
Therefore, encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you are also doing. I Thessalonians 5:11 NASB
Build up – Every believer is in the construction business. But that does not mean you and I are fabricating our own building. We are assembling the houses of others. The Greek makes it very clear. We are oikodomeite eis ton hena, “building up the other one.”
The verb oikodomeo is the verb for building a domicile, building a house. We are builders with living stones, constructing the domicile of those believers whose lives we affect. Since each of us has responsibility to be builders of the other, everyone in the community contributes to the houses of each one in the community.
We learn some very important lessons from this. First, we learn that God has no intentionally homeless believers. If you are on your own, that’s due to your choice, not to God’s plan. You are homeless because you are not among others. And you will stay that way as long as you remain separate. No man builds his own home.
Second, we learn the awesome responsibility of community. I am responsible to build your house. You are responsible to build mine. Just as I cannot be built up without you, you cannot be built up without me. Together we thrive. Apart we wander without shelter. If you do not take seriously your obligation for the others, not only will you be held accountable for your neglect, you will also damage yourself. The Bible is clear: We need each other. We need each other not simply for assembly. We need each other because we cannot be built up without this communal interaction.
Finally, we learn that each builder brings a different trade to the construction project. There is no point whatsoever of hiring only carpenters or only electricians. In order to be built up, you and I will need all the craftsmen, each one doing his or her specialty. No community exists where everyone is the same. That isn’t community. That’s conformity. If you and I are going to be built up, we will need to let each person bring his or her particular skill and talent to the project. Some are demolition experts. Some pour foundations. Some raise the frame. Some do the finish work. We need them all! Every single person brings something to the project, something unique and essential.
If you are in a community of believers, you must allow them to work on your house, to build you up. If you are in a community of believers, you must involve yourself in blessing others, applying your gifts to their lives. The only other choice is the fate of Cain (Genesis 4:14).
Topical Index: build up, oikodomeo, house, 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“I Need You” Rebecca St. James
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2jxl5NatQk 4 MIN. AUDIO only
Thank you for today’s word study. It is an important reminder of our purpose in the community of believers. Sometimes we get preoccupied with being fit/holy enough (as if we could in our own merit) for God’s holy museum that we forget our purpose is also to build each other up in this most holy faith.
We have known for some time, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6.23) and the law of the harvest (we will reap that which we have sown” (Galatians 6:7,8) have been ordained and established by Elohim and are true and faithful sayings. These, after all, are His words from His book.
Death is the result (or wage) of sin. G-d has spoken, through His prophet Ezekiel, “Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die”. Sin leads to death. Not a pretty picture, but an accurate one. Death is separation. When we are ultimately separated from the ones we love, by death, we gain a further understanding concerning death- or the well-known phrase: “till death do us part.” Death is separation.
We have realized and recognized, our G-d is a G-d of unity, togetherness, fellowship, and shalom. G-d was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. Marriage is a picture of union and shalom. “The two shall become one.” A picture and parable of intimate “oneness.” “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our G-d is ONE.” One LORD, one faith, one baptism. I really do believe, (perhaps a “Carlism”)- G-d’s favorite number (if He has one) is one. For our G-d is a G-d of unity. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” What please a father (any father) more than to see in his children, -“how they love one another.”
Oh, but then there is sin, -and sin separates. Between us (sinful man) and G-d (who alone is holy) and separates between husband and wife, parents against children, brother against brother, and friend against friend, – “sin separates.” Both in this life and in the next. Hell is a place of separation. No, we will not be “with all our friends.” It is a place of separation and desperate loneliness.” There is no fellowship in hell. Darkness and isolation forever. A man will be left alone with only his thoughts for companionship. These thoughts will turn to regret, which will result (wages) in “weeping, wailing and finally- “gnashing of teeth.” Anger and bitterness forever. Hot under the collar? -Welcome to hell.
There is no encouragement in hell. No one to comfort or to guide or to lift up. A man without Christ or the Comforter will be left- to his own devices.
Meanwhile (back at the ranch), all the suffering we (who are followers of the Way) will endure is on this side of the grave. No more tears in heaven, my brothers- “take heart.” G-d (Himself) we are told in the book of Truth, will wipe away our tears. What an awesome thought. (I’m tearin’ up, just thinking about it!-lol!).
Our suffering (here on this side of glory) is not random, or purposeless. G-d is not random with anything He does or says. He is perfect in all of His ways and this includes our “suffering.” Yes, I’ve been through some stuff -(including this,that and the other thing,) but I agree with Rabbi Sha’ul (known as the apostle Paul to some)- “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Folks, (for the child of G-d), -“no pain, no gain.”
This is no primrose pathway we have been called to walk. But we have ONE who has gone before us, and prepared our way. He knows the path that we must take, and He has said, “this is the Way, walk ye in it.”
I think today’s thought can also be addressed to the long discussion on Blame that was held a couple of days ago. We were looking at some of the suffering the people endure and how that tends to separate the sufferer from fellowship. Maybe today’s thought is the sufferer focus needs to shift to building up the others. This in turn will help those being built up to build up the sufferer. All for the glory of God.
“Two or Three” = Partnership
“Living Stones” = Teamwork
Poverty isn’t the only reason for homelessness; alienation makes one an alien without a nation.
Group Think, peer pressure, need to be “right”, and retreat all contribute to homelessness. It happens on both the “right” and the “left”. The trick is to be able to “tolerate” those we do not agree with, not by agreeing with them, but trying to find the middle ground where shalom and maybe even growth can occur. If I am giving up on those who do not agree (and I am talking about me right now) then I am not building up, nor am I loving my “enemy”, but rather I am creating an abandoned building where I can live as a homeless person. Please pray for the ability of those with a new message to be “heard” and to “hear” in a new way.
Repentance is the action I take to return home. Home is where the heart is; the heart of the Creator and the heart of community. Returning to my Beloved is the same as returning to the community; not only for a sense of family and belonging, but to once again (or for the first time) make a meaningful and purposeful contribution to the village. Instead of receiving welfare I now become a part of the welfare – the well being of those with whom I live, move, and breathe.
Thanks, Skip, for this very clear lesson. I never read the verse like this before; it’s just what I need to be aware of today! (and tomorrow, and the day after….)