“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
TEXT — Psalm 127:1-5
Message
The Great Wall was built to defend China from outside invaders. The wall is over 13,000 miles long. Its average height is above 25 feet, and its width is between 13 and 16 feet. The tremendous effort put into constructing the wall and its magnificent dimensions made it impregnable and gave China a sense of security. Yet, the Mongols, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, successfully invaded China without breaching the wall. All they did was to bribe the guards! This illustrates the vanity of human effort in securing oneself.
Our passage emphasises that attempting to do anything without God is vain. The Psalm, described as one of the Psalms of wisdom, clearly reveals that without God, no effort is worth it. Without Him, work and life lose their meaning. But when we give Him the rightful place in our lives, we can enjoy His full blessings.
We live in an age when people no longer feel or see their need for God. They think that they can build their lives and succeed in everything they do without Him. This feeling is fast spreading, mainly because of the success humans are recording in knowledge, science and technology. But despite these advancements and breakthroughs, the world still suffers great calamities that shame man’s false sense of security and self-sufficiency, just like the Great Wall of China could not hold back the invading Mongol marauders. Many Christians are gradually developing this attitude of self-sufficiency and pushing God out of their lives and plans. They rely more on experience, wealth, intelligence, and human connections. They no longer see the need to pray and bring God into their daily life and work.
We must make God the centre of all we do, the foundation of all our plans and activities. Without God, don’t think of starting anything in life – career, relationship, family, business, ministry, or whatever. If God is not in what you do, His blessings will not be in it. Unless God builds the house, the builders labour in vain. You must not only begin with God; you must continue with Him.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Oh lord be in my way today, I make you the foundation of my day and leader in all my ways. Let my day end with your blessings and favor in Jesus name, Amen
Great devotion
Great devotion
Oh lord be in my way today, I make you the foundation of my day and leader in all my ways. Let my day end with your blessings and favor in Jesus name, Amen