Sunday Devotional: Psalm 127:1

If the Lord does not build the house, those building labor on it in vain; if the Lord does not keep watch over the city, the watchman keeps watch in vain.

Psalm 127 consists of poetic wisdom sayings that don’t seem to be attached to any particular ceremony or occasion. It speaks of God’s sovereignty, and the need of God’s people to look to Him and rely upon Him in all things. And also to consider all that we have as gifts from His hand.

It may strike us at first that the psalmist doesn’t think there’s any purpose to things not done “in the Lord.” Is he really saying that a house constructed by an unbeliever serves no purpose? Clearly this is not so, since that house may be sold to a family of believers. Or it may be used by that man to raise a family, and his children may go on to become missionaries or pastors. Similarly, the watchman may do his job well and keep out invaders and wild beasts, protecting those within the city walls. There may be believers in the city that the watchman protects, so his work is not for nothing.

But it’s not the usefulness of their work to the purposes of God that the psalmist is addressing here. In God’s providence, everything has meaning and purpose. All deeds and labors, even of godless men, have purpose in the plans of God. However, if you read carefully, the psalm is not talking about the results of that labor, but the labor itself. The work that the builder puts into that house, if not done for the glory of God, with the Lord front and center of the work, is of no eternal worth to the builder. He does it for himself, and when the house is built, he moves on. He doesn’t look at that house as an example of the gifts of craftsmanship the Lord has given to Him. When he looks at that house, he isn’t reminded of the grace and favor of God to supply him with work, and enable him to make houses. He simply builds his houses, until one day he is no longer able to work, or he dies, no closer to the Lord, and with an eternity separated from Him to look forward to. Likewise the watchman, for whom watching the city is just a job. He may do it well, but he doesn’t see God’s hand in what he does.

Whether the house stands or falls is in the Lord’s hands. Whether the city is successfully defended, or overrun by a neighboring army, is in the Lord’s hands. But for those who labor without an eternal perspective, not giving their work to the Lord that He might receive the glory, work is empty toil.

I pray that as we face the coming work week, we acknowledge that our work only has value when it is done for the glory of God. And with that in mind, in whatever we do, that we would work as for the Lord, looking at the eternal benefits of giving our labors over to Him.

Have a great week!