Let's Build a Tower!

We can look out for one another in so many ways. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Maybe not his keeper but you can be a hand up, an encouragement, a defender of basic human rights, and a protector of the vulnerable.

If you aren't sure how you can do or be that, then take a moment to reflect. In your sphere of influence how can you make a difference? What do you possibly look the other way on? Have you talked to the Lord about it, or is He possibly urging you in your spirit about something that needs to be done but you have pushed that to the side?

"But what will others think if I......?" What will the Lord think if you don't? How will you feel if you let that moment go by and you do nothing? At some point we have to stand up and be counted. We have to stand up and be willing.

"What if it costs me my friends or my family?" If you are being lovingly obedient to the Lord, then the results, the aftermath of those actions are for Him to work out in your life. Our time on this planet is so temporary. Our pursuits are so often frivolous.

Can you imagine what we could accomplish if we pooled our efforts and applied them to things that hold eternal value versus things that hold temporary pleasure and offer false and temporary security?

"Mine, mine, mine!" It is often one of the first words learned by a child as well as acted out in their behavior. Shouldn't it be one of the first words we relinquish when we say yes to God?

In Genesis 1:1-6 we read the story of the Tower of Babel:

“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. ³ Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. ⁴ And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

⁵ But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

In verse 1 we see that the people were united in language. In verses 5 and 6 we see that the Lord acknowledges the unity of the people and how their goal could truly be achieved because of their unity and the fact they all spoke the same language.

God divided their languages because in verse 4 the people said to each other, “…let us make a name for ourselves…” It seems pride and prestige were the goals they had in mind.

This story encourages me because it tells me that when we unite as a people, and more importantly, for the right reasons, we can accomplish anything. If we set our pride and desire for self aside, if we were united in an effort to truly uplift, encourage and defend one another, what would that look like? How awesome would that be?!

I propose we build a tower. Not a tower of bricks and mortar but a tower of community, action, love, healing, hope and purpose. Let’s acknowledge each other equally. We have different gifts. We have different goals. Our ministries may vary but we can be united in love, even with those who were deemed by others as unlovable. Maybe that is the true test of unity…simply loving sincerely, without wondering what we are going to get for our trouble.

Are you willing to unite with others? Are you willing to build that tower? Are you willing to work beside another whose personality may not be what you are used to, whose back-story is so different from your own?

In verses 2 and 3 we read that before they built the tower these people had journeyed together and dwelt in the land of Shinar together. Then, one day somebody had an idea. That idea led to a great collaboration of effort, talents, strength and vision. Who have you journeyed beside and dwelt with in this land?

So, what about it, do you want to build a tower?