Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it (Psm

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psm. 127:1). This is an incredibly wise and powerful saying, and of course it is because it is inspired by the Spirit of God! Another powerful thing about this verse is that it can and must be applied to every aspect of our lives. Except the Lord build the ministry, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord build the congregation, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord build the marriage, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord build the family, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord build the friendship, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord build the career, they labor in vain that build it. The truth of the matter is, if we do not continually commit all of these things to the Lord in truth and in actual faith, they are doomed to failure.

Yes there are many congregations that are not being fervently and effectively committed to the Lord, yet they continue. Those congregations may continue, but they continue to be unfruitful as well. There are many marriages that remain intact, that remain intact on paper only. There are many careers that are not built by the Lord, that may appear successful but ultimately they will fall through. The Bible gives us clear instruction on how to NOT build the important things in our lives ourselves, as well as how to let God do the building: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:5-7). Trusting the Lord with all our heart very much includes entrusting all the major aspects of our lives to him. It means praying enough continually about our situations to enable us to be led by the Spirit of God instead of by our own understanding, which actually means our own misunderstanding.

Entrusting our life situations to be built by the Lord rather than by ourselves means fearing God and refusing to do anything in a deceitful, crooked, or fearful manner. Letting the Lord build all of these things in our lives means "keeping our hearts with all diligence" so that our hearts remain motivated by God's love and holiness, which love and holiness always prefers the well-being of others over ourselves. Oh yeah, there's a second part of our text verse from Psalms 127:1: "Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Again, this verse applies to everything in our lives. If we expect the various elements of our lives to be watched over and preserved by the Lord, rather than by ourselves alone, then we must do what it takes to give that watch to the Lord and keep it in his hands. We are never on auto-pilot in Christ with anything in our lives. Everything about our hope of salvation, as well as everything going on in our lives, requires our diligence of active faith continually if we expect to obtain favorable results.

The apostle Paul certainly understood the truth of these concrete realities: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Cor. 9:24:27). Once again, this sobering statement of truth is not something that a lot of folks want to face up to, but those who truly want the Lord to build and watch over their lives will both acknowledge it and do it. After we have learned to apply these things in our lives, then we can also commit the situations of others to the Lord in the same way. That is what it's all about, faith for ourselves and for one another. Everyone else who strives to build and preserve the important things in their lives by their own wisdom and strength, will ultimately see it all crumble and fall to the ground. Amen.