Unless God Builds

Unless Yahweh builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless Yahweh watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. - Psalm 127:1

When my wife and I lived in Africa, our security was sometimes a concern. We had a guard, two dogs, and a wall around the house. We were always careful to lock our doors and to keep an eye on our possessions. We weren't fearful, just watchful. Life was more about lessening interferences than avoiding distractions.

When we returned to the U.S., pastoring and serving with a missions organization, our concerns shifted a little. Of course, we still exercised caution (locked our doors and exercised care), but security wasn't quite the concern that it used to be. Our focus was on making sure we invested our time and efforts in the things that mattered most. There were fewer interferences, but more distractions.

If God is in your "enterprise," then you don't need to "watch over it" because He will, and He can ensure that its fruit lasts forever. If God is not in your enterprise, then your enterprise has no value, and it will ultimately fail, no matter what you do.

Give everything to God. Only He can build it, and only He can keep it safe forever.

Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement. - C. S. Lewis