WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING? - By Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Dearly Beloved,

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV).

One of those things that is very conspicuous when you get to any ancient city (even, at times, villages) in the western world are the magnificent beautifully built churches that can be found on almost every street. However, most of these buildings are either sold out, about to be sold, become unused or nearly empty.

In my discussion with one elderly pastor, he lamented that one of the reasons of the decline in church membership in this part of the world is that the past generation of Christians here were busy building physical structures while they neglected building people spiritually. He cited how billions of pound sterling were used to build many churches then while no or little was spent to spiritually build the lives of people that worshipped in those elegant buildings. Today, most of these buildings have been sold out or become useless.

This scenario reminds me of a Yoruba proverb: “Omo ti  a ko ko ni yo gbe ile ti a ko ta” (meaning: the “unbuilt” or untrained child will eventual sell the house that one built).

Unfortunately, this scenario is repeating itself presently in many developing countries. Church leaders are busy building physical structures and amassing material possessions to the detriment of the spiritual growth of their church members. They are investing in physical structures and material possessions, and they care less about investing in the spiritual lives of church members. Discipleship and real nurturing of the followers are no longer paramount in many churches inasmuch as the church is growing numerically and the church and its leaders can amass more material things.

Interestingly, many Christians are doing similar things to themselves. They care more about their physical lives and care less about their spiritual lives. Even, the reason why many people are worshipping God or being committed in church activities is because of what they can get physically, materially or financially from God. They continue to build their physical lives and leave their spiritual lives uncared for. No wonder, some would stop to worship God or become inactive in church when they do not have what they want from God. Additionally, there are many religious people today, but very few spiritual and well-grounded discipled people.

What are you building, your physical life or your spiritual life? What is your paramount priority in worshipping God? Why are you so active in church? Do you really care about the building of your spiritual life? As church leader, do you care about building your followers spiritually or your care is about how to build physical structures and amass as many material possessions as you can through your followers?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV). What are you building?

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).   

Prayer Point: Pray that you will care more about building yourself up spiritually.

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Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
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"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).

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