Stepping Stones: Who Are You Building a Tower With?

Transformational Thought

Yesterday we talked about unity. Where there is unity, there is much strength … even if people are unified for the wrong reason.

After the flood in Genesis, the world had only one language. The people decided to build a great city with a tower that would go to the heavens. Why? Not to honor God, but to make a name for themselves, and to prevent being scattered over the face of the whole earth. Knowing that this would be an ongoing temptation for man, God confused the language of the people and scattered them all over the earth.

Unity in and of itself is not necessarily good ... it’s the object or cause that unifies the people that is important. So, we need to make sure we are pursuing Godly causes with Godly motives. The oneness we should seek must be in Christ and through Christ, which reunites us with the Father and honors our Savior, Jesus Christ.

These people of Genesis truly were powerfully united. But their purpose was prideful and offensive to the holiness of God. They were not seeking to reunite with God. They were pursuing equality with God, actually trying to be like God with divine acceptance and status, but through their own human effort.

It sounds ridiculous to say, “I would never do that,” right? But we act and think a number of times each day with that same “my kingdom come” mentality. We idolize or focus on ourselves first, and don’t bring God into the picture until we become desperate or until someone else reminds us that God is part of our lives.

If we unite to seek power or success, focusing solely on human effort, for human rewards, from human motivations, we displease God … and are destined to ultimately fail. This especially holds true for the church; we must be focused on Christ, not on the building, organization, or denomination.

Today, take a look at those you are uniting with … for what goal … and with what motivation. Where is Jesus and the gospel in this pursuit? Be focused on honoring God, not yourself. Always recognize your total dependence on Him. Let us stand together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Prayer
My Father and my Lord, Forgive me for the times that I've united with others to accomplish something, focusing on selfish ambition and desires rather than honoring You and accomplishing Your will. Help me to always focus on You more than any organization or ambition. It is my desire and goal to honor You in all I do. I pray this and all prayers for the One who teaches about true unity, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
Philippians 1:27

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ‘Til we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Ephesians 4:12,13