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.
2 comments:
Very insightful. Thanks
Very articulate piece. Well done and Welcome back!
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