Two Kingdoms
I believe that each of us has our little kingdom – my immediate family and some of my extended family make up my little kingdom. The Lord has a Kingdom and invites me to be part of it. I’m working off the definition of kingdom meaning “a realm associated with or being under the control of a particular person”. I’m not implying that my household runs with me as king, however, I do accept the responsibility as husband and Dad in my household/kingdom. There are times that my “kingdom” has taken precedent over the Lord’s kingdom. He calls me to be part of His Kingdom and to be a builder of it.
He speaks this command to His people who were more concerned about their own households than about his. Check this out…
3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’
7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,’ says the Lord.
14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. (Haggai 1:3-4;7-8;14-15 NIV)
My kingdom is surrendered to God’s Kingdom. He must be exalted and I must be humbled. I can’t be so consumed with building my fortune that is temporary at the expense of the eternal. There is a constant tension here. I’ve talked to the Lord a lot about this. I really want to be a good provider for my “kingdom” with the Lord’s help. I also want to be an integral part of His Kingdom here where I live. I do believe that both can be accomplished when He comes first. I want my household (aka kingdom) to be completely surrendered to God’s will, support His Kingdom’s expansion in this world. While there are two kingdoms in my mind; His Kingdom really leads and sets the tone for my little kingdom/household.
Pressing On!
Dwayne