23 Also in the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 24 Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub and five cubits the other wing of the cherub; from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing were ten cubits. 25 The other cherub was ten cubits; both the cherubim were of the same measure and the same form. 26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the other cherub. 27 He placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the wings of the cherubim were spread out, so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. So their wings were touching each other in the center of the house. 28 He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29 Then he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inner and outer sanctuaries. 30 He overlaid the floor of the house with gold, inner and outer sanctuaries.
31 For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood, the lintel and five-sided doorposts. 32 So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.
33 So also he made for the entrance of the nave four-sided doorposts of olive wood 34 and two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door turned on pivots, and the two [q]leaves of the other door turned on pivots. 35 He carved on it cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the engraved work. 36 He built the inner court with three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams.
37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. 38 In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.
Now, I don’t suspect any of us is going to be building a temple overlaid with gold any time soon. But it’s somewhat incredible that in all of this, Solomon used the finest building materials, from cut stone to cedar beams, olive wood, cypress wood, and so on. The incredible part, is that Solomon goes one step further, and encases almost all of it in gold. The doors, the cherubim, and more, all were overlaid with gold.
In whatever we do, the Bible tells us to do it as unto the Lord. Now, I don’t suppose tying your shoes counts here, but it can certainly apply to a good many things. Are we content with “just good enough”? Or do we strive to do our best, as Solomon did?
No matter the case, God deserves, and desires, our very best. Whatever you’re doing today, do it as unto the Lord, to make sure you give it your all rather than a halfhearted attempt that just make it “over the wall”.