Have We Neglected the House of God?

Nehemiah 10:39 says:

"For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God."

As I read this passage in Nehemiah, one statement struck me deeply: "We will not neglect the house of our God."

I began to ponder what it truly means to neglect the house of God. Is there a posture I can take that signals to heaven that I do not regard God? Could there be attitudes, actions, or patterns of speech that reveal a lack of honor for His dwelling place?

As I reflected further, I realized that we are no longer in the days when God primarily dwelt in physical temples made by human hands. Through Christ Jesus, God now resides in us.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:16:

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

If we are now God's temple, then the question becomes: How do we honor this temple He has given us?

Honoring God's Temple

Honoring the temple begins with caring for it both physically and spiritually.

When we study the book of Exodus, we see the detailed instructions God gave Moses concerning how Aaron and the priests were to approach His presence. There were protocols regarding cleanliness, preparation, clothing, and reverence. These instructions reveal a principle: God desires that His people approach Him with honor and respect.

This means that our bodies matter to God. It is not only our spirits that we present before Him; we also present our bodies. We should therefore care for ourselves, maintain cleanliness, rest adequately, eat properly, and steward our health wisely.

The Danger of Defiling the Temple

Scripture warns us against joining what belongs to God with what is contrary to His will. Sexual intimacy was designed by God to be expressed within the covenant of marriage. Outside of God's design, it often leaves emotional, spiritual, and even psychological wounds.

Many people have experienced significant changes in their lives following ungodly relationships or sexual encounters. Brokenness, confusion, and spiritual oppression can often be traced back to violations of God's divine order.

God's instructions are never meant to restrict us but to protect the precious treasure He has placed within us.

Protecting the Good God Placed Within You

When God created man and woman, He declared His creation "good." Yet He did not stop there. He blessed them and commanded them:

"Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth."

This reveals God's intention for humanity—to multiply His goodness throughout the earth.

The enemy understands this, which is why he constantly seeks to attack the good that God has deposited within every believer. His objective is to corrupt, weaken, or destroy the potential God has placed inside us.

Neglecting the temple of God is therefore more than simply failing to attend a church building. It can be any posture of disobedience, ignorance, or carelessness that damages the work of God within us and hinders the expression of His goodness through our lives.

Living as Carriers of God's Presence

Everything God created has protocols that govern how it relates to Him. Scripture tells us that God feeds the birds of the air. If God makes provision for the birds, how much more does He care for those He has chosen to dwell within?

We are not merely people trying to survive after the fall of man. We are living temples of the Holy Spirit.

Because of this, we should carry ourselves in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself through us. We must steward our lives well physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Take care of yourself. Bathe regularly. Eat well. Rest adequately. Stay healthy. Grow spiritually. Spend time in prayer and in God's Word. Follow God's protocols and depend on His grace to help you walk in obedience.

When we do this, we demonstrate that we have not neglected the house of God, for we recognize that we ourselves are His dwelling place.

Stay Revived!

Scriptures for Meditation

1 Corinthians 3:16

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"