And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it. (1 Kings 6:38 NKJV)
We live in a society that is addicted to convenience. Honestly, I love it too. We have our smart phones that do everything. There is no more need for TV guides, looking in the newspaper for movie times, watching the local weather or home phones. We have it all. Quick, easy and convenient.
The sad thing is that we have tried to convey this to starting movements. We all pack up in a car and go to the big church that found the secret to doing it faster, quicker and apparently, convenient. We read books, go to conferences and attend webinars looking for the faster way.
The passage above gives us insight into Solomon's building of the temple. It states that it took him 7 years in all. From the moment he was called to start it, it took 7 years. It took time.
Jesus called the disciples in Matthew 3, but did not commission them until Matthew 28. Time.
To build anything significant will take time. Time is the one element that everyone underestimates. I have said it before and will say it again: It's going to take more time than you anticipated and will be harder than you imagined.
Building takes time.
