Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.
Psalm 127:1 AMPC
Have you found yourself building something without God’s help? Let me put it this way: have you ever starting working on something without waiting to hear from God on the matter? I’m sure you have; I know I have! I am thinking of a ministry project that I undertook once that, although it required a significant amount of time and energy to complete, was a tremendous idea and seemed like a powerful opportunity to reach the community with the gospel of Jesus. I excitedly gathered my team and we got to work. I knew, however, deep in my heart, that I had never really talked to God about the project, but had assumed that, since it was such a good idea that seemed like it would really touch the community with the gospel, I never took the time to discuss it with Him. I wonder if you have experienced the same thing?
Throughout the project, I kept pushing back that gnawing feeling that I hadn’t really done my due diligence, but because I was so deeply involved in the project at this point and had so many people counting on me, I kept my head down and pressed forward. I think I secretly knew that God wasn’t really “in” this project; it was something of the flesh and, although motivated by a pure heart, it just plain didn’t work.
By the time we completed the project, I was tired, my team was tired, and if anyone in the community was impacted for Jesus by our labors, I never heard a single word about it. I took a week off after the project to recuperate and finally gave God “the floor.” Of course, He lovingly shared with me how, although He was proud of the hard work I did from a pure heart, that I had, in fact, missed it. If only I would have been more sensitive (and obedient) to the voice of the Holy Spirit, I would have wisely used my resources (and my team’s resources) in a more productive and anointed direction!
I want to point out Psalm 127:1, which says
“Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.”
My main point in sharing all this with you is this: You’ve got to take the time to be sure God is infusing your work with His light and life, otherwise you are wasting your time. Secondly, don’t go off the deep end on the opposite of this and think that you have to wait around until you hear an audible voice from heaven or other spectacular manifestation of God confirming your work. We must learn to be content and confident enough in our relationship with God to step into some things, carefully at first, before we hear His voice, but carefully moving in that direction with the light of what we have right now.
And you know what the next verse (Psalm 127:2) says? Here we have a picture of what work ought to look like when infused with God’s power and when we are truly partnering with Him in fulfilling His Word on the earth:
It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil—for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.
Now that’s what I’m talking about. One of the most sure-fire way you can tell you are missing it is if you are over-working, wore out, and even having a hard time sleeping. (Yes, I’m taking the Bible literally! I recommend letting the Bible say what it wants to say instead of over-spiritualizing everything to make it say something else. But I digress.)
This is God telling us what it looks like to build something in your own power. Don’t feel bad, friend, if this describes you in your current season! There is always a way out. I don’t believe you are reading this today by accident! If you will allow it, the Holy Spirit is speaking something to your heart right now!
I encourage you to ponder these two questions today:
1. Have you taken the time to dialogue with the Lord about your current work? What are you building right now? What are you working on? Are you building with your own strength, or are you partnering with what God wants to do in that area?
2. Are you so afraid of “being out of the will of God” that you aren’t acting in faith, boldness, and confidence, but timidity and hyper-spiritualism? Are you passively waiting for God to make the first move for you before you step out to accomplish anything?
I believe the adventurous path of the Christian life is hemmed in between the two shrubs of apathy and presumption. In the middle of the road is perfect and holy communion with a glorious and unlimited Father who desires relationship, increase, anointing, and capacity to fulfill His Word far beyond our wildest expectations. Where on the path are you walking?
That, friend, is something to think about today.