pangalactic gargleblaster

You get up, work hard, do what you think is right, try to improve what you do, listen to advice, try to get some time to yourself, go to bed, sleep…and get up the next morning to start it all over again.

How in the middle of all of this do you get ahead?

The author of Psalm 127 says it is vain to rise early or to stay up late.  Gosh, I thought that was one of the secrets of success…just work harder.

The psalmist says it is vain to be a diligent worker (guarding or watching over the city). What?

He even says you can work your tail off trying to be a good father, husband, wife, or mother and it all can go up in smoke.

This author seems like a real killjoy.  What point can he possibly be making?

Here is his point:  “Unless the LORD builds the house…unless the LORD watches over the city” (verse 1)…all these things can be in vain.

This author is not anti-work or anti-family. In fact it is here that we find “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him” (verse 3).  “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (children, that is!) (verse 5).

The author happens to be the man regarded by Jesus as the wisest to have lived, Solomon. In fact, Solomon wrote an entire book about the brevity of life and what counts (the book of Ecclesiastes). He knows his stuff.

What Solomon has learned is that I can use all my self effort to work hard and be a committed family man and still find the result is all in vain.  BUT, if I work and lead my family with the Lord’s effort, with God’s strength, with his provision, then we’re getting somewhere.

Lasting results spring from the only one who lasts, the LORD God Almighty.

My part is to learn how to get out of the way and let God build, let him guard, let God establish his ways.

But it sure is hard for me to learn to get out of the way!

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.  ² In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.  ³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.  ⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.  ⁵ Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
— Psalm 127

Howard Morrison is a partner in Gilbert, Arizona’s Morrison Ranch (where one of his nicknames is Bias for Action). In addition to being an active second-generation partner in the the family owned business, Howard identifies himself as a pastor (in a previous life), a husband, and the glad father of three.