F.E. Marsh :: 174. God's Workmen

“THERE were two men who had the oversight in making the tabernacle. The first was Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and the second was Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan (Ex. 31:1-6). We want to take these seven names and their meaning as illustrating the secret of success in Christian work in the divine sense of the word, and also the sort of workers God wants.

1. Bezaleel, which means in the shadow of God. If our work is to be God honouring, we must be dwelling in the secret place of God’s presence.
2. Uri, which means light of Jehovah. Living in the light of Jehovah, in the light of His word and presence. And the result will be that our whole body will be full of light (Matt. 6:22); thus the light that has shone into our hearts will shine out in our life in work for, and with the Lord (2 Cor. 4:6-7).
3. Hur. This name has a triple meaning-free-born, noble, white. Free-born. Only those that are born of the Spirit, by the Word and through faith in Christ, are made children of God; and as such, our Father says to us, “Son, go work to-day in My vineyard.” Noble. As free-born ones our work must be noble, noble in its motive-the constraining love of Christ; noble in its object-the glory of God. White. As free-born noble ones our work must be white, no second motives, but pure, holy service to the Lord.
4. Judah, which means praise. Working Christians are joyful, praising ones. Believers who do not work for the Lord have plenty of time to listen to the doubts and fears the devil brings before them; but the working Christian is like the busy bee; as it passes from flower to flower getting the sweetness out of each, it seems to hum its song of praise as it goes buzzing along. So we shall find that as we speak to others of the love of Christ, that love will burn in our own hearts.
5. Aholiab, which means tent of my father. The tent is the symbol of separation from the world. As workers we are sent into the world, but we are no longer of the world, and no longer is the world in us, although we are in the world as a ship is in the water and the water not in the ship. If we would have power in service, there must be practical separation from all that is worldly, and a confession that we are pilgrims and strangers on the earth, and that “our citizenship is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour.”
6. Ahisamach, which means brotherly support. The secret of manifest blessing from God in work done for Him is unity amongst the workers. “How can two walk together except they agree?” and this applies with equal force to work; there must be unity, brotherly support; no bickerings or jealousies, but a real interest in each other, and each other’s work; remembering that it is the Lord’s work, and that we should rejoice in whomsoever He uses.
7. Dan, which means judgment. As to our persons, we shall never be judged for our sin, because Jesus has borne the judgment for us. As servants, we shall be judged, that is, our work, of what sort it is. As sons, we are now to judge our ways by the Word of God; but we are also to judge what sort of work we are building on the foundation-which is Christ. If we are building on it the wood of vain-glory, loving to be seen of men; the hay of profession and the stubble of mixed motive, it will all be burnt up at the judgment seat of Christ. But if we build on the foundation, the gold of pure motive-the glory of God; the silver power of love, and the precious stones of prayerful faith, believing work and loving labour (1 Cor. 3:11-15), these will stand the fire, and we shall receive the Master’s “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Thus may we judge our work of what sort it is now, and be “stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).