December 10

“My son,” said David to Solomon, “it was in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, but this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My Name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me. — 1 Chr 22:7-8 BSB

God was pleased with David’s desire to build a temple, but it wasn’t David’s mission to carry out that work. His role was to conquer the land and gather the materials, while someone else—Solomon—would build the temple. Sometimes the dreams we have aren’t meant for us to fulfill. Instead, they belong to those who will come after us.

Many people are called to do preparatory work. A man may go to the wilderness, clear the land, and build a simple log cabin. His son may inherit that land and build a grand home. The father’s work, though less visible, was just as important as the son’s. Similarly, one group of workers may dig the foundation for a building, toiling underground for weeks. Then, another team comes and raises the walls, drawing everyone’s attention to the magnificent structure. The foundation work is hidden from view, but it’s just as crucial as the grand walls above.

In the same way, without David’s efforts, Solomon could never have built the temple. In life, God assigns each of us a role. If we faithfully fulfill the task He gives us, He asks nothing more.