Unless the Lord Builds . . .
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Psalm 127:1-2
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This psalm has great application for our ordinary, daily lives. Building a house is symbolic of a task, an enterprise, a career or job. It’s what we do when we get up every Monday morning. Solomon, the psalmist, says that if we try to build, work, or guard our “territory” without God as the foundation, all of our efforts are useless and in vain. The blessing of the Lord comes as we use the talents and skills God has given us and trust and rely on him for the outcome. Then our effort won’t be in vain; it will bear fruit and blessing—including the blessing of rest.
What is your “building project,” the work God has entrusted to you? Is it building a company or a structure? Is it building lives by being a parent, teacher, pastor, or caregiver? Put God at the center of your endeavor, for in him is your blessing and your rest.
Prayers:
LORD, I acknowledge that without dependence and trust in you, all my work is in vain, my effort wasted. I want you to be the foundation of my life, my family, and my vocation so that the work of my hands will bear fruit that honors you. Then I will be able to enjoy the rest that you give.
Quotes:
Of the building of life, God is the architect and man is the contractor. God has one plan and man has another. Is it strange that there are clashings and collisions?
Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: 1 Kings 5:1–6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5 and Proverbs 16:28-30.
