Who Do You Work For?

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

There are at least three lessons in this text:

First, no project can succeed unless it is the Lord’s will.  God is working out His plan for His creation, and it does not matter how hard we strive to go our own way, we will not succeed unless our way is God’s way.

Second, what God intends to build will get built.  No force in heaven or on earth can stop God from doing what He has planned.  His success is guaranteed.  When we first flew into Fairbanks, Alaska eighteen years ago, we went prepared to survey a community for a possible new church plant.  Before we even reached the village of Nenana, sixty miles south of Fairbanks, people were telling us how difficult the field was in the village.  And besides, if they felt Nenana needed a new church they would have started it.  Thirty days later, by the grace of God, a new church began. 

Third, God will work with us to accomplish His will.  He needs no human hands.  The One who spoke worlds into existence can surely build a house on His own.  But by His grace He has purposed to do some of His work through human laborers.  We had only recently completed one church planting class at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and we were feeling somewhat insecure about this church planting stuff.  Yet, we felt this was where God wanted us to be.  We are not drifting through this world to live lives of meaningless mediocrity. We were created to follow after God, carrying out His will and working for His kingdom.

While we labor, we do so with the assurances found in Psalm 127:1.  As the people of God, we strive to walk according to His ways, avoiding irrelevant, unproductive tasks that do not conform to His will while pursuing wholeheartedly the work He has called us to do.  And as we labor for Him we know that our labor is not in vain. 

God will complete what He has begun, and the fruit of our work will span eternity.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing
change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.