◄ What Does Psalm 127:1 Mean? ►

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORDwatches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 127:1(ESV)

Verse of the Day

Whether running a home or building a house, working at a factory or supporting a ministry, there is one vital principle that is all-embracing. It is that all our undertakings require a total dependence upon God for without the Lord being in charge, all efforts will be frustrated and all activities will be rendered unsuccessful: "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it. Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain."

No family will flourish, no building will be sound, no city will be successful, and no church will be unified unless the Lord is the one who establishes it. No matter how much money is spent and how skilled workers may be... unless it is built and blessed by the Lord, it will crumble and be headed for ruin. Jesus said, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it," and He is the only One Who is able to ensure the success of our earthly endeavours.

Irrespective of developed skills, natural talents, physical capabilities, or intellectual genius, all expended effort that excludes the Lord will be rendered futile and fruitless. This first verse of Psalm 127 makes it very clear that unless the Lord keeps the home, the family, the city, or the church, the watchman’s warning or the minister’s message will be in vain – for neither diligence nor alertness will profit one whit without the Lord, Himself, at the helm. How blessed, therefore, is the home, the family, the nation – the people, who have God as the Head of their house and Jesus as Lord of their lives.

It is king Solomon to whom this psalm is ascribed, whose great wisdom was acclaimed throughout the world and many of his precepts and proverbs, which were inspired by the Holy Spirit, are contained in the Scriptures. And it was the same Solomon who recalls in the book of Ecclesiastes that without the Lord everything is futile and filled with vanity, while the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and humanity is urged to reverence His holy name.

Whether we are building a family or a business, a home or a community, a website or a republic, a church or a nation, it is both foolish and futile to begin a building assignment - no matter what realm it may cover, if God is not the One Who builds it - if Jesus is not ascribed the principal place of honour that is due to His name.

Should we not diligently seek to apply this truth in every corner of our lives, our homes, our work, and our world – for unless the Lord is afforded His rightful place in all our doing, we will labour in vain, Unless the Lord 'builds the house' our lifework will be fruitless and we will have laboured in vain. It is God Who ordains the life of a family and the same God Who ordains the nation-state. Our times are in God's hands individually and collectively and it is God Who sets in place the rulers of the nations, but how often we set ourselves up for failure as we try to ford our own little stream and paddle our own little canoe in our own strength.

No building project can be successful without the Lord being in control. No family can thrive and prosper if God is not the Head of that home, no church community will flourish and become fruitful unless, personally and jointly, they have placed the Lord in His rightful place, and no country can be protected from the enemy or remain free from destruction if the Lord's authority is denied, for unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labour over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.

May we take this warning to heart and be diligent to establish our life and home, our family and marriage, our church and community, our country and nation on Christ - the only sure foundation.

My Prayer

Loving Father, I want You to be the One watching over my life in all I say and do, for I confess that without You I can do nothing, but I praise Your name that I can do all things through Christ Who gives me the strength. In His name I pray, AMEN.