20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

1 Kings 4:1–7
King Solomon was off to a good start ruling Israel. These were the leaders in his government:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;
Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—historian;
Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander of the army;
Zadok and Abiathar—priests;
Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the regional managers;
Zabud son of Nathan—priest and friend to the king;
Ahishar—manager of the palace;
Adoniram son of Abda—manager of the slave labor.

Solomon had twelve regional managers distributed throughout Israel. They were responsible for supplying provisions for the king and his administration. Each was in charge of bringing supplies for one month of the year.

Observation:

It was marvelous to read through today’s Scripture passages and see how amazingly organized King Solomon was for building the temple and running the day to day activities of his kingdom. He didn’t do a stitch of the work himself. He hired good people and had a great team that surrounded him, which gave him the time to do what he did best: gain wisdom and understanding and get the reputation of being the wisest man on earth!

Application:

This chapter comes at an appropriate time in my life. I, too, have a marvelous team of people who help me in my business, but I’m still getting stuck in the minutiae. I need to finish setting up my team and let them do what they do best, so I can do what I do best—lead my company and move forward!

Prayer:

Father God, I love how practical the Scriptures are! Thanks for this reminder of how teamwork is supposed to function.

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Scripture Focus:

Job 7:7 Oh, remember that my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.

Observation:

Job has been dealt a mighty blow. Everything and everyone of value to him have been taken away. As he sits and bemoans this fact with his friends, he makes this observation: “My eye will never again see good.”

Those of us who have read the end of the story know this isn’t true. God abundantly blesses Job when this period of suffering is over, but at this point in his life, Job can’t imagine how that could ever be true.

Application:

When I’m in the middle of a hard situation, my perspective tends to skew my attitude. It’s hard to see beyond my current circumstances and maintain a positive, trusting attitude.

Even John the Baptist, when he was in prison, sent to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, or should we look for someone else?”

This is where faith comes in. Later, in Job 13:15, Job is able to come to the point where he says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.”

Prayer:

Father God, I so often feel like I’m a victim of my circumstances. Help me to look beyond the circumstances and know that you love me and have my life in your hands, no matter how I feel right now.

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2 Chronicles 24:4 Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Observation:

Joash set his heart on a worthy goal: repairing the house of the Lord. That required money, and because he had set his heart to do the task, he came up with a great idea of how to get the money to do it.

There is a principle here. Whatever we set our hearts to do, we can usually accomplish, but more important than getting something done is making sure that what we do is in line with God’s vision for us and benefits those involved.

Paul instructs Timothy to command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God. Therein lies the balance. If we can set our hearts to do the thing that God wants us to do, and do it with humility and trust in God, we can accomplish great things that are a blessing to ourselves and others.

Application:

I’ve had a sense of direction from God recently. Will I set my heart to pursue this worthy goal, and will I do it in such a way that all are blessed and God’s kingdom is advanced? May it be so!

Prayer:

Father God, keep my heart steady, trusting in you to bring about the goals and dreams you place in my heart, and may I be passionate about my goal without being self serving, so the outcome can be a blessing to many.

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2 Chronicles 7:11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house.

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

Observation:

Abraham and Solomon both had God-given dreams. God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations, when he was, as yet, childless. For Solomon, the dream was to build the temple and his own palace.

I remember hearing a sermon by Doug Wead years ago about the fact that God loves to give us dreams of a good future, and it’s true. You see it here for Abraham and Solomon, and you see it all through Scripture.

Romans 4:17 makes an amazing statement: God gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. That means any dream he gives us, he can bring to pass, no matter how unlikely it may seem. In fact, God seems to particularly enjoy the impossible dreams!

Application:

Make sure your dream is from God. Once you have prayed through it and you’re sure it’s not just your wishing, then don’t let anything stand in your way. Believe for it like God does—as though it already exists, when it doesn’t as yet.

Prayer:

Abba Father, you’ve given me a dream. Sometimes it’s hard to keep a positive, believing attitude when I look at the facts, so help me to keep my eyes on the dream and put my faith and hope in you to complete the job you’ve started.

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1 Chronicles 22:6 Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God; but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.

Observation:

Before the house of the Lord could be built there had to be a period of preparation, of subduing the enemy so there could be a time of peace in which to build. David also gathered many of the materials needed to build the temple. And even though David would have liked to have built the temple himself, that’s not how it happened. His son Solomon built it instead.

With any great dream or work there are seasons of preparation, overcoming obstacles, planning and gathering, and finally, a time of peace during which the work finally comes to fruition. And it’s even possible that the one who came up with the idea won’t be the one to see it through to the end, but if it’s a work ordained by God, it’s worth being part of the process.

Application:

I must not be impatient at the season I’m in as long as I’m moving forward. Has God given me a vision of the future he wants me to build? Yes. Then I can be content, as long as I’m moving forward with his help, wisdom, and strength.

Prayer:

Abba Father, keep me faithful to the dreams you’ve given me, no matter what season I’m in.

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Joshua 14:12
Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day . . .

Observation:

Caleb was 85 years old and he still had goals and visions and dreams. It took 45 years from the time he first had his vision to the time when God gave it to him, but God granted his desire in the end.

I love that Caleb is still active and forward thinking at 85!

Application:

I should never stop dreaming and believing big things for God. If God gives me a dream, he’s big enough to help me conquer my “mountain.” It may take awhile, but God is great at bringing about the result in his timing.

Prayer:

Father God, I’m listening for your dreams and visions for me. Help me conquer my mountains.

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