After having a discussion with both my father in-law and my brother in law, I picked up on an unusual “gem” that they both shared in their respective fields that I thought was really deep. They both mentioned that some of their limitations in their respective fields is the lack of land and property available to build in order to expand. Being innovators, they both seemed to have come to similar conclusions. That is, when you can’t build wide, you build up.
Of course, it makes sense. When you’ve reached the maximum space you are allowed to build both length and width wise, why not use the space above it. I’m sure there are limitations to building skyscrapers as tall as the CN tower in the middle of nowhere, but the idea that there’s always more room if you go up is quite genius. It puts into perspective the term “the sky’s the limit!”
I’m obviously not in a field where I will be building wide or high for any reason (If you see me trying to fix the church building, call for help!). However, I do feel like this innovative idea has some value in our daily and spiritual lives. When I think about not being able to build wide, I think about all the demands and distractions that are pulling us both to the left and right of ourselves. At times, it even feels like we are being stretched to our limits as if there is no room to do anything else. How can I be here and do this now, when I have to be there and do that then?
My encouragement to you as well as myself, is if you can’t build wide, build up!
If you’re thinking to yourself, what do you mean build up? Let me explain. When we spend time with the Father and build our relationship with Him, we are actually building up vertically. Taking an illustration from Gabe/Eric, the cross gives us a picture of how when we build our relationship with the Father vertically, we have more capacity to extend horizontally (to others). I believe by building up through our relationship with Jesus and our Father, we are able to be elevated into a higher perspective. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
When God shares with us His thoughts and ways that are not our own, we tend to see things differently and by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are given a new perspective and sometimes even new strength, wisdoms, knowledge and understandings that we couldn’t get if we kept trying to do it our own way. Let’s face it, most of us try to build wide. With the busyness of life things often end up pulling us left and right and sometimes down rather than up. But let me tell you, when you build up, you don’t have to worry about building wide because God has everything you need.
2 Peter 1:3 NLT
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”
Father, I thank you that we can have a relationship with you, through your son Jesus.
I thank you that though we have limitations as humans and as people who live on earth, we can turn to a God who has no bounds to help us.
Father, when we are stretched thin and can’t build wide, help us to build up!
Show us what we need and give us the grace and mercy to walk in your ways.
We pray this, in Jesus name.
Amen!