A Mind to Build

Psychologists have known for a long time that the success of nearly any endeavor is largely dependent on the mindset of those engaging in that endeavor.

This is most certainly true of building for eternity! (Col. 3:1-2).

Colossians 3:1–2 NKJV

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

The prophet Haggai had a strong rebuke for those more concerned about building for themselves than for the Lord! (Hag. 1:2-8).

Haggai 1:2–8 NKJV

2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.

David serves as a great example of one with a “mind to build.”

David Had A Mind To Build

One of the reasons he was called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

Acts 13:22 NKJV

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

From our first introduction to David we see him as one more concerned about God’s majesty and kingdom than his own safety (1 Sam. 17:26).

1 Samuel 17:26 NKJV

26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

He was not content to build only for himself, he had a mind to build for God! (1 Chr. 17:1-4).

1 Chronicles 17:1–4 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent curtains.” 2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 3 But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.

And, even though God restricted him from building the Temple, David committed to making all the preparations he could (1 Chr. 22:5; 22:14; 28:19).

1 Chronicles 22:5 NKJV

5 Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.

1 Chronicles 22:14 NKJV

14 Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them.

1 Chronicles 28:19 NKJV

19 “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.”

When Solomon completed the Temple, his father’s mind to build was remembered (1 Kings 8:15-21).

1 Kings 8:15–21 NKJV

15 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’ 20 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

This same mind to build, expressed in a passionate zeal to prepare as much as we can, should be the mindset of every Christian!

The People Had A Mind To Build

They had leaders that had a mind to build (Neh. 2:1-5; 6:3; Ezra 7:10).

Nehemiah 2:1–5 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. 2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” So I became dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

Nehemiah 6:3 NKJV

3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

Ezra 7:10 NKJV

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

The example of their leaders gave the people a “mind to work” (Neh. 4:6).

Nehemiah 4:6 NKJV

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

Any successful building project - including building up the church - depends on people with the right attitude! (Titus 2:14).

Titus 2:14 NKJV

14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.