Kingdom Builders
By Mike Rule

I have been thinking about kingdom builders lately. I don't refer to those who are building "THE KINGDOM" but to those who are building "A KINGDOM." A kingdom builder is a person who is absorbed in self. For them, ministry = their image. Take away their ministry, and you have taken away their perceived worth and value. We can often see the evidence of a kingdom builder when someone else comes along that God is obviously speaking through and using powerfully. The kingdom builder will immediately take the words and ministry of this individual as judgment against themselves. They will immediately shove this individual out of their lives and hold them at arm's length because their personal kingdom is threatened. Feelings of being judged as immature may be stirred in a kingdom builder, and deep seated insecurities can be stirred as well.

God is more interested in the minister than the ministry, and that is why I am mentioning this. I'm not mentioning all this for us to look at others and judge them, but for us to look in the mirror and examine ourselves. In fact, I am preaching my own funeral here. Is our only goal the revelation of Christ? To be honest I am sure mine isn't, but it is my desire. I am finding that when I give God something, He won't give it back! He is a jealous God!

This is the thing about kingdom building. Is the goal to build "A" kingdom, or "The" kingdom? Might I suggest that our goal should be neither? To build "A" kingdom is to make effort to build up my own glory. To build "The" kingdom is to make effort to build up His glory. The goal is not to build our own glory, but it is not to build up His glory either. It is important for me to realize that HIS goal is to display His glory. As I dwell in His presence, His goal naturally flows through me, but I know it is still His goal! If I am working for His glory, I am still in a works mentality and I believe that God needs my effort and my ability to accomplish His work. We forget that God didn't need us to create the world so He certainly doesn't need us to create His kingdom. However He does invite us to participate in what He is doing. The thing I must be continually reminded of is to ask myself WHY I am participating. The only answer I want to ever give for that question is to simply to enjoy Him. What a privilege that is! My prayer is that I never lose sight of that, and I am so thankful that He will keep us safe for His glory, and that He won't let us lose sight of that! I know I can't keep me, and that my own heart will lead me in MANY other directions. But I praise God that our Jesus is so faithful!