October 11, 2006
Empire Building
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Those who walk in pride He is able to put down. —Daniel 4:37
After being warned by Daniel about his pride, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was struck with insanity. The Lord restored his mind, but only after he spent 7 years in a field thinking he was a wild animal.
Nebuchadnezzar went from boasting, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for . . . the honor of my majesty?" (Dan. 4:30) to a humble prayer: "I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven" (v.37). He had repented of prideful empire building.
Bible teacher J. Vernon McGee expressed concern about empire building in the church today. He advised Christian leaders, "Don't try to build a little empire of your church. I started out with that viewpoint, and I had never been more unhappy." He encouraged them to "build into the lives of people" and leave the results to God.
When a church devotes undue energy to statistics, buildings, and programs, pride can enter in and the needs of God's people can be forgotten.
Jesus never forgot the importance of individuals. He invested His time in 12 men (Mark 3:14). Paul discipled Timothy who in turn discipled others (2 Tim. 2:2). God's kingdom grows when we invest in people.
And pastors preach the Word,
When love for Christ seeks out the lost
To win them to the Lord. —D. De Haan
Bible in One Year: Bible in One Year; Isaiah 37-38; Colossians 3