'' 2 Chronicles 2 : 7 - 10 Send me therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled craftsmen, whom my father David provided.
Send me also cedar pine and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are skilled in cutting timber there. My men shall work with yours to provide me with plenty of timber, because the temple I build must be large and magnificent. I will give your servants the woodsmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine and twenty thousand baths of olive oil. ''
'' 2 Chr 2: 12-16 And Hiram added : '' I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my Lord, David your father.
Now let my Lord send his servants the wheat, and barley and the olive oil and wine he promised, and we will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them in rafts by sea down to Joppa. You can take them upto Jerusalem.'' ''
Here, we see that King Solomon, who is known for his magnificent wisdom and splendor, sends message to King Hiram to provide him certain skill needed for building the Temple of God.
Immediately , there was one name on king Hiram's lips. This name is 'Huram-Abi'.
Most of us might not have given importance to this name, when we read the book of Chronicles.
But if we meditate, we can see that this person is someone who is recommended by the king of that land, to king Solomon.
Dear people, doesn't this speak volumes on how hardworking and skillful Huram-Abi could have been?
How pleased was God with his hardwork, that his skill was praised by the king of that land and was recommended to king Solomon, who was looking for this skill, to work for him in building the magnificent Temple of God?
This also speaks volumes, on how king Hiram was attentive towards his people in his kingdom, nurturing the talent of his people.
He knew what kind of skillful people he had under him and what are their conditions.
When Solomon asked him, king Hiram mentioned even who are the parents of Huram-Abi, along with the areas of his expertise. And how he can be useful to king Solomon.
'' 2 Chr 2: 12-14 And Hiram added : '' I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him.''
Huram-Abi surely had worked very hard, in honing up his God given talents.
And when the right time came, God opened the door for him, to work for His Temple, that king Solomon was to build for him.
For the skill of Huram-Abi, king Hiram was offered abundant supplies of wheat , barley, olive oil and wine.
'' Proverbs 27 : 23 - 27
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure for ever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
You will have plenty of goat's milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.''
Dear people, as we meditate on these Scriptures, let us learn this hour, to nurture the talents that God has given us.
Let us learn to give careful attention to our capabilities and gifts that God has bestowed on us, and work diligently towards attaining skill in the areas of our calling.
You never know at what time your talents might be needed for building up something very big ! And how God might use you in building of the Temple - the Church !
This name, 'Huram-Abi' may not be known to Solomon, but God knew him.
And since he gave his complete devotion, he had won the favor of God and God made him an expert in that area. And put him up with the kings. And when the right time came, God opened the door for him to work for His own Temple.
Dear people, there is plenty of work in the vineyard of God.
God needs many skilled workmen.
Let us see how Huram-Abi attained skill in his work :
''2 Chr 2 : 12- 14 I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him.''
From this Scripture we discern that:
1. He is well trained
2. He is experienced
3. Has used the skill in multiple areas
Dear people, this hour if you are someone who is given spiritual gifts and talents, useful for the kingdom of God, begin to nurture them.
Train yourself in those skills.
Use those gifts and skills as frequently as possible and gain experience in them.
Do not wait for someone to knock your door offering a position for you to begin your work. Start using the gifts of God in whatever fields you are in and wherever it is possible.
Gain grip over the skill.
So that when you become perfect, and our King Jesus notices your hard work, devotion and interest, towards what is bestowed on you, and the way you are giving complete attention to them, using them productively for the glory of God, He will make Kings pass through your gates, and open doors so that you may be placed in magnificent palaces, as a recognition of your talents, and shower on you huge rewards for your hardwork.
We also must notice that it was not Huram-Abi who ran for gain and approached king Solomon or asked king Hiram to send him.
But the king himself recommended his name.
''Jeremiah 8 : 10 - 11 From the least to the greatest all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
They dress the wound of my people as they it were not serious.''
Dear people,God will not be pleased if we run after gains, and misuse the gifts carelessly with those people he is bringing to us, in order we may practise our gifts.
He wants us to be serious and treat each person whom we are ministering, very preciously .
'' Jer 8 :6- 7 Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.''
Huram Abi might not even have dreamt that he will get an oppurtunity to work with king Solomon in building the Temple of the Most High God.
He was not even in Solomon's kingdom. But God made a way for him.
Dear people, do not be in haste pursuing some fame.
Wait untill God exalts you.
Do not seek after gain, but seek after perfection in that which is entrusted to you.
Put all your efforts to hone up your skills.
Keep in the requirements of God even in the smallest of actions that you carry out for the kingdom of God.
So that when the right time comes, God will open a big door for you.
'' Jer 8: 8 How can you say '' We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord, when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely ?
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped.Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have ? ''
Be careful that you do not handle the gifts and the word of God falsely.
If we are careless in acquiring discernment and true knowledge of God, then all we will face at the end, is shame.
Therefore dear people, as you read this message, if the Spirit of God is speaking to you, begin from this hour to nurture the talents God has given you for the spread of His Kingdom.
Ensure that you are keeping in the requirements of the Lord when you are using your gifts.
Practise them regularly, training yourself in all aspects of godliness, and gain experience in using your gifts, so that in God's appointed time He will lift you up and place you with Kings and Queens and bring Glory to His Name.
God Bless You.
