1 Kings 7:13,14
"Now King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work."
 
This may not seem like a verse that inspires us to great things for God.  In fact, as we read about the work of Hiram in the context of this passage we wonder about the usefulness of his labor in the big picture of life.  He was a man that made beautiful things out of bronze.  He was called upon by Solomon to use his abilities in the house of the Lord.
 
What I find interesting in this passage is that his abilities are described by “wisdom and understanding.”  We see this concept repeated throughout the Old Testament.  It says in Exodus 28:3,
 
"You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me."
 
What we see in these people is that they had skills which were not necessarily seen as connected with the religious activity of the temple.  But those skills were from God and the wisdom in how to use the skills were from God.  They exercised their occupations based on the wisdom of God.  So, when they were called upon to serve in the temple those skills were a benefit to the religious practices of the temple.
 
Hiram was ready to serve with his skills before Solomon ever called upon him because he used his skills wisely in everyday life.  We see throughout the Old Testament God calling upon the Israelites to walk in His ways, every day in every activity. 
 
Sometimes I hear people say that they are not ready to serve in the church.  I don’t believe that it is because they are not spiritually prepared to serve in the church.  It is because they have not realized that God’s wisdom to serve is not just connected with a location.  It is in every decision every use of every skill in the careers that he has given us. 
 
We need to remember what Solomon said in his dedication at the opening of the temple. 
 
1 Kings 8:27
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!"
 
God is not contained in a building, a group, a day, or an activity.  There are two questions that we can ask ourselves moment by moment. Am I working filled with wisdom and understanding? When I serve God in the ministry of our spiritual community will I work in the same way that I do in my career?