Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Wow! Those are tough words. "God will bring ruin upon anyone ..."

Let's become builders!

In this case, he's not talking about you personally being God's temple, but about you plural — you Christians, God's people, His church, being the temple — and he is warning about the thoughtless and harmful destruction of a community of people by selfishness, gossip, fussing, and just insisting on your own way.

God's people are sacred! When somebody comes in to criticize and complain and stir up controversies, it's serious business. It's a big time sin. The church — each of us — is warned to be careful about those people who tear down. Even though it does seem to come more naturally to criticize and tear down, don't do it!

Instead, let's become builders — people who cooperate, encourage, and build up. When you care for His church — God's family, God's holy temple — you're going to bless countless others and God is going to richly bless you!

 

Print this Article Send it to a Friend Heartlight encourages you to share this material with others in church bulletins, personal emails and other non-commercial uses. Please see our Usage Guidelines for more information.	Leaders Create Culture Build Up Your Own Student A Time to Build
	ALL of Heartlight        --- ARTICLES   A Taste of Home   Caring Touch   Diary of God   Hope for Life   Hope from the Hill Country   Just for Men   Just for Women   Leading in Hope   Love, Sex & Marriage   Making Life Work   Prayer for the Nation   Single...Not Alone   Special Features   Timely Truths   Together in His Grace   Two Minute Meditations        --- DEVOTIONALS   Charles Spurgeon   Daily Wisdom   My Utmost for His Highest   Praying with Paul   Quotemeal   Today's Verse   What Jesus Did

© 2007 Paul Faulkner.

Title: "Become a Builder"
Author: Paul Faulkner
Publication Date: September 07, 2007

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N. T. Wright Destined to become a classic alongside Lewis's Mere Christianity - a fascinating and accessible apologetic for modern seekers.

More Heartlight Feeds

Get Heartlight articles and devotionals by email FREE every day! Daily Heartlight Today's Verse What Jesus Did! Quotemeal

More Information