Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin his heart rages against the Lord.
Proverbs 19:2-3
I’ve been thinking about building lately and specifically building His Church . Psalm 127.1 reminds us that building is a vain work unless the Lord constructs. We know Jesus is the one who is building his church and all the examples we are given throughout the Old Testament show us God’s involvement in the things He has destined to build and establish. We have the example of Noah and the ark, Moses and the tabernacle, David and the building plans for temple. God is the Master Builder. We work for him. Each OT story shows us the instructions and the preparations that came with the building process.
Within the developing new work God established
through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ; we see and discover something that has never existed before, “we’ve not gone this way before.” This great work of building His church was initially committed to the oversight of twelve men, discipled and trained by the Lord himself. Jesus ascended but did not leave them alone. The Helper has come and empowered them. He now brings to remembrance all things Jesus has said. He is the Spirit of truth who promises to guide them into all the truth. He will show them things to come so they are prepared. This helper is the revealer of the heart and mind of God who continues to teach them. Their dependency upon this Helper was absolutely vital to the building of His church and has set precedence and pattern for the continued building process so that the gates of hell will not prevail against. They will attack but shall never prevail because He has decreed it so.
Thus we have our admonition from the book of Proverbs.
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin his heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:2-3
Hasty actions with no knowledge brings ruin and we are…..mad, offended, disappointment, casting off, quitting….you pick, but the condition of a raging heart can only be resolved through repentance. We know from the book of Nehemiah when mens hearts fail them they cast off the work given. Lack of knowledge, wrong knowledge, opens all of us to potential disappointments. Please note the verse in proverbs hinges, not on hasty work, but hasty work that holds no knowledge.
How many ‘good ideas’ have we put our hands to, without taking the time to determine His activity in them. The Tower of Babel is a good example. We are to move “with” him. Called to be “with” him, “sent” by him and we find faith begins where the will of God is known. Every word He decrees is filled with potency to produce.
Once we hear, we have the wisdom of God. We hold knowledge and understanding as we add our yes and amen to His instructions. Step by step, faith to faith, we walk this process of building with Him and with His Helper….. and no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for His Kingdom.