1 Kings 6: 11-14 The word of God came to Solomon saying, “About this Temple you are building—what’s important is that you live the way I’ve set out for you and do what I tell you, following my instructions carefully and obediently. Then I’ll complete in you the promise I made to David your father. I’ll personally take up my residence among the Israelites—I won’t desert my people Israel.” Solomon built and completed The Temple.

Solomon was known for his wisdom, but also for building the temple. David wanted so much to build a temple for God, but that was not his calling. Solomon seized the opportunity and built a wonderful house for God, made of stone, gold, beautiful wood and impressive construction.

However, the building, with all its splendour and pomp, was never supposed to be the centrepiece. God was. Yet, the things we build for God can so easily consume our focus, until God Himself fades into the background. What God truly desires is a relationship of love; for it is within such a relationship that He longs to dwell with His people.

Then God gave this incredible promise to Solomon and his people, and of course also to us. He promised that He would dwell among His people. And that is the golden thread winding through the entire Bible: God with His people. God in the ark. God in the temple. God who comes to dwell among people in Jesus. And today, God who dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.

In the end, it’s not about the building, but about a love relationship holding everything together.

We can easily build “temples” today. A ministry, a career, a business, a family, even a good reputation as a Christian. We can become so busy with our work for God that our relationship with God comes second.

Solomon fell into this trap later in his life and allowed his heart to turn away from God.

This is a warning to all of us. We need to make sure that our focus stays in the right place. We need to focus on our loving relationship with God. The rest is just noise.

You see, when we listen to the world, when we allow the sounds of what is going on around us to fill our ears, God’s voice easily becomes silent amidst all the noise. It is within a loving relationship with God, where He holds first place, that we come to know and hear His voice better and better.

Because God does not first seek the things we build for Him. He seeks our heart.

Prayer
Father, I love You with everything in me. Show me where things in my life are making too much noise, so that I can get rid of it and hear Your voice clearly again …

Questions
Is my relationship with God still more important than all the things I do for Him?
What “stuff” is currently making so much noise in my life that I am struggling to hear God’s voice?
Is there anything I need to make less or put down so that there can be more room for God again?

Do this now
Turn off all the noise for ten minutes today. Put away your cell phone and just sit quietly with God.
Ask Him: “Lord, what is making too much noise in my life right now?” If something comes to mind, decide today what you are going to do practically to make more room for God again.