In Gen. 11 we read the story of the Tower of Babel.
There is some great unity in the city. Everyone spoke the same language and used the same words (v. 1). They were all apart of the culture. They all had the same vision to build a tower. There was only one problem, there intentions were to build this tower for themselves (v.4) so they would be famous (v.4). They wanted people to come from miles around to see what they had done. They believed that this act would keep them from being spread out around the world (v.4).
This part amazes me…God acknowledges that because of their unity they could accomplish anything (v.5). So God goes down and confuses their language and spreads them out all over the earth (v. 8). Which is ironic because the is the very thing they were trying to aviod.
So what is the take-a-way. Unity is vital but intent is critical. If you try and change the culture of your ministry, get them all speaking the same language, have them all focused on the same vision but have the wrong intent God will eventually step in and stop you. I think for ministers the “make yourself famous” instead of “making God famous” is a strong struggle. This is a thought I have really been battling, “Do I do what I do because I want people to know who I am, or because I want people to know who God is?”
As ministers I believe that we must constantly keep this in front of ourselves. I am not always pure with my motives in this area. I am striving for it though.
Strive for unity but die for intention.
