After being warned by Daniel  about his pride, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was struck with insanity. The Lord restored his mind but only after he spent 7 years in a field thinking he was a wild animal.

Nebuchadnezzar went from boasting, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for . . . the honour of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:30) to a humble prayer: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven” (v.37). He had repented of prideful empire building.

Bible teacher J. Vernon McGee expressed concern about empire building in the church today. He advised Christian leaders, “Don’t try to build a little empire of your church. I started out with that viewpoint, and I had never been more unhappy.” He encouraged them to “build into the lives of people” and leave the results to God.

When a church devotes undue energy to statistics, buildings and programmes, pride can enter in and the needs of God’s people can be forgotten.

Jesus never forgot the importance of individuals. He invested His time in 12 men (Mark 3:14). Paul discipled Timothy who in turn discipled others (2 Tim. 2:2). God’s kingdom grows when we invest in people.

Poor is the church that values programmes above people.

Author

Dennis Fisher

Topics

Our Daily Bread