Carpenters and masons are all builders and repairers of buildings_one working with wood, the
other with stone or brick. Evidently highly skilled carpenters and masons were not very abundant
in Israel, for both David and Solomon imported such persons for constructing important buildings
(2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5; 1 Chron. 22:2). Carpenters and masons were hired for the rebuilding
of the temple after the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 3:7).

The third chapter of Nehemiah gives a detailed list of those who took part in rebuilding the walls
of Jerusalem. Most of these were not professional builders (verses 1, 8, 22, 31, 32), but men and
women (verse 12) who were concerned about the work of the Lord.

There is an interesting reference to the carpenter in Isaiah 44:13 which describes his tools and
methods. Unfortunately, the carpenter was using his skill to fashion an idol rather than something
good.

The only carpenters mentioned in the New Testament are our Lord and His foster father, Joseph.

Our work for the Lord is described by Paul as building (1 Cor. 3:9-17). Paul and the other
apostles laid the foundation (verse 10) and the rest of us build on this foundation. We are to be
careful how we build, for if we use perishable materials our work will be burned up (verses 12-
15). A popular verse states, "Only what’s done for Christ will last," but I think it would be more
accurate to say, "Only what’s done by Christ (through the power of the Holy Spirit) will last."
Only what is done by the Holy Spirit working through us will remain for eternity; anything done
in the flesh (even if we thought we were working for the Lord) will perish. "Except the Lord build
the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1).

There are many other references in the New Testament to spiritual building. The word "edify"
comes from the Latin word meaning "to build" and originally had that meaning. It has come to
mean to instruct or enlighten, especially morally or spiritually.

Although the gifts were given to the Church for edification (Eph. 4:12), each one of us (Eph.
4:16) is to live his entire life (not just the exercise of gift) as a means of edifying. The apostle Paul
did all things for edifying (2 Cor. 12:19) and he exhorts us to do the same (1 Cor. 14:26). Our
speech and topics of conversation are to edify others (Eph. 4:29 and 1 Tim. 1:4). We are to desire
the ability to prophesy rather than the gift of tongues because prophecy edifies (1 Cor. 14). Any
spiritual gift or authority is to be used for edifying (2 Cor. 10:8), not for personal advantage (2
Cor. 13:10).

Do we have liberty to eat and drink certain things or to engage in certain activities? This liberty
is not to be used to please ourselves. We should be willing to curtail our liberty in order to edify
others (Romans 14:19; 15:2; 1 Cor. 10:23).

Let us take heed to our whole manner of life, then, as well as to our spiritual work or gift; for,
like the building of the walls of Jerusalem, edification is an occupation for all of us, not just for

the "professionals." Let us, especially, "love one another," for it is love that edifies (1 Cor. 8:1).