Who's The Builder?

Bible Study: Psalm 127:1a

Unless the Lord builds a house, they that build it labour in vain.

If we broaden our perspective here, a house can represent your family, relationship, business or career, project, business idea, ministry or a church. For God to build, we must commit the 'house' to Him. Which means He must give direction regarding it and we must defer to Him. 

If we do things in our strength alone, then we do them in vain - we may get success at the end by worldly standards but they could be meaningless to God and His kingdom, which is a tragedy.

Some consequences of not getting direction from God are:

- Fruitlessness (The Israelites many times disobeyed and went with their own counsel. As a result, they never entered the promise Land except for Joshua and Caleb. Numbers 14:30)

- Division (As a result of Sarah taking things into her own hands, Ishmael was born and Abraham's family was divided forever re: Ishmael and Isaac. Genesis 21:8)

- Discontentment (The Israelites failed to trust God and began to look back on what their lives could have been in Egypt. Exodus 16:1-4)

- Confusion (The people decided on their own to build themselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens. Thus the Lord confused their language so they did not understand each other re: Tower of Babel. Genesis 11:1-9)

- Disaster (Saul partially obeyed God and was denounced as king for it. 1 Samuel 15:1-28)  

- Death (Samson's horrific death as a result of his marriage to Delilah and his alliance with the Philistines. Judges 14 - 16)

Here is the million-dollar question though:  Does that mean I should do nothing until I hear from God on a matter? 

While thinking about how to answer this question with some measure of wisdom, I found this online:

The Holy Spirit is not the patron of lazy and inert men; but he directs the minds of those who labour to the providence and power of God. --Wolfgang Musculus, 1497-1563.

God (through the Holy Spirit) will not work on our agendas all by Himself, He needs our cooperation but it is in our best interests to commit our ways to Him, then He will guide us on what to do as we move. His response may not come through an audible voice but rather a sign, testimony from someone else, a change in the environment or economy or an unusual happening that affirms His direction. We can only know if we patiently and faithfully listen out for Him as we go. 

There may be other times when we just cannot go because He has not said go. The truth is, it really is on a case-by-case basis but you can know what to do in your situation through God's wisdom, if you ask Him.

In 1787 Benjamin Franklin gave a speech at the Convention for forming a Constitution for the United States and some of it is culled here:

I have lived for a long time 81 years; and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall proceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little, partial, local interests; our prospects will be confounded; and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, or conquest. I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business; and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service. 

Little wonder why almost 230 years later, the same Constitution still stands and is the point of reference for almost every decision made in the US. This is the very same constitution that, from what we read, God built.

Reflection: Is there something in your life that you need to commit to God? It is never too late.