A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:1-2 ESV)
It has been said by some that the beauty of science is that it reveals the mysteries of the universe. The scientist who labors over his microscope to test a new drug against cancer does a great service to society by teaching us about things we cannot see or understand with our eyes alone. But the mysteries that the Word of God reveals, goes far beyond what the greatest scientific advances could ever offer us, for it teaches us what our greatest human instruments can never discover. In this case, the wisdom of God instructs us that the will of God is the ultimate reason behind every one of our successes and failures.
But this does not mean that we are excused from our responsibility to work! Our work matters, but so does the Lord’s work. A house is not built unless an architect draws up plans and a carpenter puts a hammer in one hand and nails in the other. Experience tells us that it is foolish to think that a house can build itself. Yet, this passage is not about our responsibility to work but rather about the attitude behind our work. The wise person who is informed by the Word of God as to the true nature of things, understands that two things must occur for any project to succeed. One, we must build, and two, the Lord must build with us. There are always two who must work for any project to succeed. And the work of the latter is the most important. God’s invisible hand must steady our hands to hold our tools. God’s invisible hand must withhold the rains and winds, guard us from injury, and keep our minds from error-prone calculations. The men of Babel built a tower to the sky to rival God, but because their work displeased him, he demolished their work by confusing their language.
How many human projects do we know that have been terminated by the will of God through unforeseen circumstances! Whether this was due to an economic crash, a devastating earthquake, or unnoticed human error, work can never succeed unless the Lord is at work! Even the sharpest watchman will fail to protect his city from a stealth attack, unless the caring eyes of God are turned towards the city. We should not eat our meals and pay our bills worrying as if the entirety of our provision rests on us. No, we may sleep in peace, knowing that for those whom the Lord loves, he gives the gift of a peaceful sleep—sleep that is free from worry because we are free from the anxiety of trying to provide for ourselves as if we were God.
How humbling this is! We cannot grow food to eat unless the Lord wills. We cannot spot danger unless the Lord allows us to see it. We cannot build a house or undertake any project, unless the Lord is with us! In him, truly, we live and move and have our being! But as humbling as this is, it is also remarkably consoling to our souls. For we know that if we labor diligently at our Master’s command and our project fails, then it is because his hand has brought it to a halt. We are free to work diligently, and also free to not worry about the results.
Christian, is your life busy and full of projects and tasks that seem endless? Do you find yourself anxious about the results? Do your problems keep you awake at night because deep in your heart, you have been trusting in your own plans and efforts for success? Are you stressed out because despite your best efforts, your health continues to fail? Come now, will you not cast your anxieties on the Lord who cares for you, builds for you and fights for you? Or perhaps, do you find yourself proud of your achievements and fail to give God glory for what he has done in your life? Humble yourself before his mighty hand and give God the glory that he is due!
The blessed soul is not the soul that can only find happiness in success and pleasure, but rather, the soul that possesses unshakeable joy in the knowledge that the hand of God is ultimately responsible for all of life’s successes and failures. Truly we can face plenty, hunger, abundance and need, if only we are certain that we do all things through the one who strengthens us (Phil 4:12-13). And if God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us on the cross, let our worried and anxious hearts find comfort in his love. Truly, all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). So, in all that we do, let us never forget that there are always two who are at work.
Samuel D. Chua 