Building for a Great Future - for Myself Alone?

Welcome again, precious reader, to this series on preparing for your future. In the last article, we discussed the need to have a healthy concern(not worry) for your future that keeps you on your toes in preparing adequately for it. Check it out here in case you have not.

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In the Bible, there are two stories worth considering; of men who wanted to build something. We will consider them and draw valuable lessons from God's word.

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A. The Tower of Babel

‎Gen.11.4 - And they said, "Come, let us build OURSELVES a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name FOR OURSELVES, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."

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‎The first story was that of a unified human race, who wanted to make a name for themselves and build a city and a tower unto themselves. God clearly opposed that: He confused their language and ensured that the project was abandoned.

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B. The Temple Dedicated to God's Worship

‎1Kgs.7.51 - So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the LORD was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD. 

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‎The second was of King Solomon who built a temple(called the house of the Lord God), for the worship of the true God. And when the temple was finished and dedicated, God approved him by sending forth His glorious presence. 

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‎In the same way, in preparing for your future, our sole ambition should be to build something that God approves of. Your future ambition should really be to please God in the right path that He sets you on. 

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‎God never created you to build a future for yourself; to satisfy your desire for greatness, fame, and wealth. No. 

He created us to desire Him, grow to know Him, and by following His plan for our lives, be a blessing to others. 

Being a blessing to others can be through your gifts, through your talents and skills, through love, through your resources, and above all, by reconciling others to God after being reconciled to Him.

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So, in summary, friends, you are building a future:

‎ •unto God, your Maker;

‎ •for the good of countless men to whom your gift, talent, love, service, and goodwill can be a blessing.

‎•not first for yourself or your selfish ambitions.

‎What a great joy and privilege we have that God has not created us for nothing; He has created you and me for His glory - for us to know Him and to make Him known by being a blessing to others.

‎If this article has helped you learn something of worth, please let us know in the comments. Also share this article with a friend in secondary school so that they will be blessed too!

Our next article in this series will be: "Who should you build with?" Watch out?!