The Immense Returns on Building the Temple

Good day, everyone. Today, let us examine 1 Kings, Chapter 9. This chapter deals with hard, tangible assets and practical gains. The central theme is straightforward: the returns on building God’s temple are exceedingly rich.

We must change our fundamental mindset today. Never assume that trusting God means living a life of destitution and misery. Trusting God leads to prosperity and well-being. But here lies the danger: when people become comfortable, they tend to slack off, lose discipline, and drift away from God. That is fatal. When a person possesses everything, he rarely exercises faith. When do men trust God most? In times of crisis and suffering, when they cry out in desperation. The reality of human nature is that men can endure great hardship, but few can handle enduring prosperity without losing their edge.

God Answers Solomon’s Prayer

In the previous chapter, Solomon prayed:

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!" (1 Kings 8:27)

In this chapter, the Lord responds:

"The Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. The Lord said to him, 'I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.'" (1 Kings 9:2-3)

Solomon had the right posture, and God answered him. For anyone establishing a church, the decisive factor is this: once the building is done, God must dwell there. If God is not present, the entire enterprise is completely pointless. Building a church that lacks God’s presence is total failure. Make no mistake: where God’s presence is absent, demonic forces take over.

Solomon prayed for a dwelling place for God’s Name. Why? Because prayers offered in such a place are answered. If you build a church where prayers go unanswered, what have you achieved? Absolutely nothing. If a church lacks God’s presence and instead harbors demonic oppression—where cancer rates among members are double those of the secular world—that is a catastrophic failure.

What did Solomon seek? God’s tangible presence. When we build a church, God’s presence must be our uncompromising objective. Without it, everything else is pure nonsense. Our church went through a very difficult period in the past. Why? Because we were operating without God’s presence. Prayers were unanswered, curses followed, and yet people deluded themselves into thinking they were suffering like Job. What a tragedy! If you build, you must build a church that carries the presence of God. How do you secure it? By aligning your vision strictly with God's will. Even the highest heavens cannot contain Him; why should He inhabit our structures? We must humble ourselves and build strictly to His divine standards. That requires absolute discipline.

"Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake...'" (Mark 10:29)

When you read this, what is your reaction? It sounds daunting. But these are God’s non-negotiable requirements. If you do not build according to His standards and do not hold believers to these expectations, how can you expect God’s presence and blessing? But once God establishes His dwelling among you, the outcomes are extraordinary: abundant resources, material supply, and genuine joy.

When a church has God’s presence, the results are undeniable. What else could one ask for? Many believers are far too dull in their faith; they fail to comprehend the raw power of God.

Understand this: our God provides our sustenance, heals our diseases, and supplies our wealth. You lack nothing, and you walk in strength. Frankly, serving as a pastor under such conditions is immensely rewarding. When God is on your side, every single endeavor pays off. Let us be entirely clear on this.

Profiting from the Transaction with Hiram

In business, do you aim to run at a loss or turn a profit? You must make a profit.

"It came about at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house (Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, according to all his desire), then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. He said, 'What are these cities which you have given me, my brother?' So they were called the land of Cabul to this day. And Hiram sent to the king 120 talents of gold." (1 Kings 9:10-14)

Solomon turned a massive profit. Whether Hiram felt shortchanged is beside the point; the hard fact is that Solomon came out ahead. You might ask, "Pastor, was this entirely ethical?" Set aside abstract moralizing. Solomon executed a shrewd transaction. Hiram provided cedar, cypress, and gold, and in return received twenty cities. But what kind of cities? A city can be a major metropolis or a remote outpost. In modern terms, there are tier-one cities and tier-five backwaters. Solomon handed over third-rate, remote towns—he did not give away prime assets. The transaction yielded enormous economic gain for Israel.

How does God grant profit? Scripture makes the underlying principle plain: God gave Canaan to the Israelites not because Israel was inherently righteous, but because the local inhabitants were corrupt and slated for judgment. That is the hard reality. Solomon built the temple, and God answered his prayer. Do not imagine that God’s blessing is merely an abstract theological concept; it translates into real, tangible provision. True faith delivers concrete results.

Some dispute this because they ignore Scripture: "Through His poverty, we might become rich." Think carefully about this. You cannot spiritualize this away and claim Jesus was merely "spiritually poor" so we could be "spiritually rich." That is nonsense. When Jesus hung on the cross, He was stripped of all earthly wealth—no bank accounts, no property, and His garments were divided among soldiers. He took on physical poverty so that we might enjoy practical abundance.

Solomon profited from his dealings with Hiram. God frequently transfers wealth from the undeserving to those who please Him. That is why pleasing God is of paramount importance. If you fail to please God, all the wealth you painstakingly hoard will be wiped out by hospital bills or swallowed by spiritual forces. Do not be foolish. And never treat your tithes and offerings like tipping God; that only invites His wrath. In practical terms: if you trade a marble for a sheep, a sheep for an ox, and an ox for a house, the counterparty entered the deal voluntarily. The bottom line is what matters.

Profiting from the Alliance with Pharaoh

"For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife." (1 Kings 9:16)

Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter. Pharaoh was ruthless and efficient: he conquered Gezer, eliminated the inhabitants, and handed the city over as a dowry. Whether that conquest meets modern ethical standards is irrelevant; geopolitical realities are governed by power and strategic alignment.

Why did Solomon secure these assets? Because he loved God and prioritized building His temple. We need God’s blessing. If you chase money relentlessly, you will end up drowning in debt. But if you commit yourself to loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, God will demonstrate His abundance. Why do men remain poor? Because they leave God out of their calculations; they rely entirely on their own frantic efforts and accumulate only liabilities. Look at Solomon: he gained international favor, and Pharaoh delivered strategic territory without Solomon paying a single cent of bride price. Instead, Pharaoh provided prime real estate as a dowry.

You may ask, "Pastor, why focus so much on wealth?" I tell you plainly: God takes no pleasure in poverty. Solomon reaped tremendous strategic advantages. He neutralized his political rival, his brother Adonijah, secured his throne, and expanded his territory through foreign alliances. Why? Because he loved God and built the temple.

Profiting from Forced Labor

"As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel, their descendants who were left after them in the land whom the sons of Israel were unable to destroy utterly, from them Solomon levied forced laborers to this day." (1 Kings 9:20-21)

Constructing the temple and the palace complex required enormous manpower. Under ordinary circumstances, such projects would bankrupt an administration. Solomon utilized the remaining foreign populations as conscripted labor, dramatically reducing operational costs.

You might argue that Solomon was harsh. But do not confuse God with a sentimental philanthropist. The spiritual reality operates on the Matthew Effect: to the one who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Consider failing churches: a handful of believers struggling to give, led by an incompetent leader delivering lifeless sermons. In time, God takes those resources and reallocates them to where they will bear fruit. God channels resources to those who produce results. Where God’s presence resides, blessings multiply. When God gives you increase, take it without false modesty.

Disputing historical grievances is futile. The Canaanites had occupied the land for generations, yet God dispossessed them and gave the land to Israel. You cannot argue with God’s sovereign decisions. The blessed quietly advance; those under judgment have no appeal. Aligning yourself against God is a losing proposition.

As Christians, our objective is not covetousness, but unwavering devotion to God. Coveting your neighbor's property brings a curse; it violates the Ten Commandments. Solomon did the fundamental thing right: he loved the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, and strength. If we do the same and build a glorious church, the rewards will follow naturally. We do not need to engage in illicit schemes or speculative ventures. Our mandate is singular: love God wholeheartedly and build His glorious church.

Profiting from Governing the People of Israel

"So Solomon built Gezer and the lower Beth-horon, and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, and all the storage cities which Solomon had, even the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule. As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel, their descendants who were left after them in the land whom the sons of Israel were unable to destroy utterly, from them Solomon levied forced laborers to this day. But Solomon did not make slaves of the sons of Israel; for they were men of war, his servants, his commanders, his captains, his chariot commanders, and his horsemen. These were the chief officers who were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work." (1 Kings 9:17-23)

Look at the governance and administrative precision: Solomon trained the Israelites into an elite managerial class. He did not reduce his own citizens to manual labor; he positioned them as commanders, supervisors, and administrators. Over 550 chief officers enforced strict discipline over the labor force.

Through Solomon, God executed effective state-building: storage cities, military depots, urban infrastructure, and territorial administration. It is identical to modern national development—building expressways, ports, and critical infrastructure. That requires high-caliber talent. Solomon developed his people into capable leaders, and the entire nation flourished politically and economically. Why? Because God’s presence was with them, God answered Solomon’s prayer, and Solomon possessed a clear, pragmatic, and godly understanding of what it takes to build.

Profiting from Shipbuilding and Navigation

King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, seamen who knew the sea, along with the servants of Solomon. They went to Ophir and took four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon. (1 Kings 9:26–28)

Look at human history: which nation, at the height of its power, did not build ships? Any nation that masters the seas and excels in shipbuilding is bound to be a prosperous power. Conversely, if a country is to thrive, it must master maritime trade and navigation. Sea power is paramount—make no mistake about it. The ancient Israelites under Solomon achieved something extraordinary. Never before or since did Israel command such expansive territory, nor was it ever governed with such administrative excellence.

Why was Solomon’s governance so remarkably effective? Because God heard his prayer. God’s temple stood there; His name dwelt within it; His eyes watched over it continuously. The temple was consecrated so that His name, His eyes, and His heart would remain there perpetually. Brothers and sisters, do not get your fundamentals wrong here. If you practice a muddled, undisciplined faith, you will run into serious trouble.

Consider the sheer volume of gold: four hundred and twenty talents. And Hiram supplied another hundred and twenty talents. That is an enormous amount of wealth. The prosperity of a nation often involves factors that go beyond ordinary economics. Let me share an observation with you: look closely at the world today. Is it not the Chinese who love God most fervently in this generation? Are Chinese churches not flourishing more than ever? Look at what is happening across North America and Europe, and judge for yourselves. Today, we have established the Mingding Doctrine—what we call the Chinese Mingding Doctrine—which is the most rigorous, systematic theology available.

Reflect on this: is China’s rise entirely unrelated to this spiritual reality? There is a profound correlation. Whether secular commentators acknowledge it or not is irrelevant; if you analyze the hard facts, the connection is undeniable. Just a few decades ago, people in Singapore were saying that mainland Chinese could barely afford meat. Today, we are the ones establishing systematic theological frameworks for the global church.

When the British were most devout—during the Victorian era—Britain was at the zenith of its global wealth and influence. When Americans placed their trust in God, the United States stood as the preeminent power in the world. Now, the era has arrived where we, the Chinese people, love God most deeply. Consequently, our people grow stronger and more capable. In this critical juncture, we must shoulder the responsibility of advancing the Gospel. It is my hope that in this generation, through the disciplined logic and systematic theology of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine, we will become an enduring blessing to many.

Recently, a pastor visited me. He was undergoing an arduous, exhausting phase in church planting. I laid out the core principles of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine to him, and his confusion was instantly resolved. He was immensely relieved and said, “Pastor, every time I come to you, your insights provide real, substantial nourishment.” I believe he is entirely right.

God Grants Solomon Whatever Pleases Him

How do we know God gave Solomon whatever pleased him? Solomon recorded it himself in Ecclesiastes. If he fancied the daughter of Pharaoh—a woman of extraordinary grace—he took her as his wife. Then another, and another; when space ran short, he built palaces. Every man on earth might envy Solomon’s life, but few possess Solomon’s wisdom.

Consider his works: he spent seven years building the temple of the Lord, and thirteen years building his own palace. To the unthinking observer, this might appear disproportionate. But God did not mind. Build away—there was no shortage of resources. Whatever Solomon desired, whatever he set his heart on building throughout his domain, he brought to completion. The temple and the royal palace were fully accomplished. Make no mistake: Solomon loved the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, and strength. In return, God bestowed all these magnificent things upon him to enjoy.

God has no interest in forcing Solomon into the life of an impoverished ascetic. He does not expect us to roam around looking like Ji Gong, rolling grime off our skin and pretending it is medicine. God provided for him abundantly.

Therefore, let me say this plainly to any preacher among us: if you build a church where God’s presence genuinely abides, the joy is immense. It surpasses ordinary human experience; it is an absolute privilege.

I thoroughly enjoy the work I do. Why? Because God takes pleasure in my thriving. He does not want me crushed under the burden of miserable asceticism. We must find joy in our labor—that is the return on building God’s house. I speak from firsthand experience so that brothers and sisters may grasp the immense, tangible dividends of loving God and building His kingdom.

Let me put it bluntly: our God is a dependable currency. Why bow down to the God of Wealth—a petty, powerless idol? Our God can be counted on; worship the true God instead. Our God is our Healer, more effective than medicine. Our God is our joy, our contentment, our wisdom, our everything.

If you grasp this reality, serving as a minister is an unparalleled enterprise. What vocation on earth is superior to preaching the Gospel? None. Nothing in the secular world compares to it. That is why the Apostle Paul was filled with unshakeable joy; nothing could separate him from the love of God.

Why did you fail to secure that commercial project? Because you failed to love God first. Why fixate on a business venture or a live-streaming channel? Why prioritize a secular job or money over God? The root of all failure is a lack of love for God. When you love Him, curses dissipate. I urge you to take this truth to heart.

God’s Promises and Solemn Warnings

The Lord said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.’” (1 Kings 9:3–9)

This is a sobering passage. It struck Solomon’s heart with tremendous force, and God intends it to shake us awake today.

If you walk as David walked, your lineage on the throne will never end. But if you and your descendants turn away, fail to keep His statutes, and worship other gods, the outcome is catastrophic. Do not place your ultimate confidence in a physical church building. Do not anchor your faith in a temple of stone, timber, and gold, magnificent though it may be. Structures do not matter; what matters is God’s Word, God’s warnings, God’s Name, and the alignment of our hearts and minds.

Brothers and sisters, let us recognize the stakes: walking with God is a high-stakes endeavor. If you obey faithfully, the dividends are vast. If you compromise and chase after false gods, ruin is inevitable.

God is not sentimental about physical structures. He promised Solomon that His Name would be there forever; yet when the people abandoned Him, God abandoned the temple. Solomon’s temple was reduced to rubble by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In Jesus’ day, after His crucifixion, not one stone was left upon another. Never forget: the church institution must never become an idol. God alone is God.

A pastor once asked me: “Have you planned for your succession?” I replied, “Why should I obsess over that? The real question is: do we have a David? Do we have a Solomon? Do we have people with the right heart?” That is the decisive factor. Without that heart, maintaining a religious organization is pointless—it only invites curses.

Building a church carries immense responsibility; being a Christian involves significant risk. If people are deceived, led astray by the devil, and abandon God’s laws, that Christian, that pastor, and that church will become an international laughingstock.

Just today, I spoke with a man who illustrates this clearly. Years ago, his daughter suffered from severe depression and came to me for help. Once she recovered, she drifted away to pursue her own interests. I do not believe in moral coercion; the Gospel is not forced upon people—it must be sought with genuine hunger.

Now, he finds himself in trouble: his liver and kidney markers have deteriorated, and he suffers from chronic insomnia. He asked me to pray for him. But he was treating my prayers like a superstitious quick-fix, whereas what I teach is a systematic, rigorous faith. This man had attempted to merge Christianity with Buddhism, and the only result was that his medical indicators worsened. Why attempt such foolish syncretism? I explained to him plainly that this is not how authentic faith works.

Let us be objective: many Buddhists perceive the vanity and emptiness of life with clarity. But one cannot stop at emptiness; one must proceed to grace. Buddhists rely on self-cultivated discipline; Christians depend entirely on grace. While we were yet undeserving, God showed us mercy, healed our diseases, and bore our griefs and sorrows.

I told him: “You came asking for prayer, but I must give you what is truly valuable—the Chinese Mingding Doctrine.” I sent him Courses 101, 102, and 103 to study systematically. If he lacks the discipline and perishes before finishing them, that is his own responsibility. But if he is sensible, completes the courses, and reads the Scriptures diligently, he will abandon this senseless syncretism.

If syncretism is what you want, you might as well join Yiguandao. They have already combined Laozi, the Buddha, Jesus Christ, and Muhammad under their “Venerable Heavenly Mother.” There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

My point is simple: heed God’s warnings. We must not make idols out of our church buildings, our ministries, our pastoral zones, or our titles. We must thoroughly internalize God’s laws and commandments, and serve Him alone all our lives. When confronted with worldly wealth and grandeur, we must remain unswayed. When we receive God’s promises, grace, and business prosperity, our hearts must never be captured by material gain.

Gold is not our life. The physical temple is not our life. The church institution is not our life. Our God and His Word stand firm in the heavens forever. The divide between strict obedience and disobedience is vast. I urge everyone today: get your priorities right. The formula is straightforward: do not eat of the knowledge of good and evil, do not gratify the flesh, do not love the world, and love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, serving Him alone. It is as clear and simple as that. In doing so, we spare ourselves wasted years on hospital beds and unnecessary medical suffering.

This man then asked me, “Pastor, do you go for regular medical checkups?” What a low-level question. Why should I rely on that? He went for tests, terrified himself, and watched his numbers spike out of control. I have God. My walk with God is my ultimate health assessment: I check whether I am strictly obeying His Word. If a man is in disobedience, what good does it do for a doctor to tell him he is ill? If you do not know God, by all means, rely on your doctors. But for those of us who know the living God, we overcome every crisis through disciplined prayer and genuine repentance.

Therefore, remain vigilant and disciplined. Under no circumstances should you cross God. When a man sins against God, there are no good outcomes. The devil does not have the final say; God Almighty does.

Today, let us align our priorities with what God cares about, and He will guard our hearts. Where does your heart truly lie? Is it anchored firmly in God's Word? Let God engrave His truth upon the tablets of our hearts today. Amen.

May God bless you all.