LET GOD BE INVOLVED IN IT
“UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, THEY LABOUR IN VAIN WHO BUILD IT; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)
Hard work and diligence are some of the good attributes to possess and are parts of the conditions for greatness:
“DO YOU SEE A MAN WHO EXCELS IN HIS WORK? HE WILL STAND BEFORE KINGS; HE WILL NOT STAND BEFORE UNKNOWN [obscure] MEN" (Proverbs 22:29 NKJV).
READ: Proverbs 10:4; 12:24, 27; 13:4; 21:5
However, hard work and being diligent are not enough for you to experience God's blessings and greatness.
Without God’s hand, His approval, in what you do; you may not experience a considerable or significant result in your endeavours and aspirations.
In our text, the Psalmist said unless the LORD builds the house, the work of the builders is wasted. And if the LORD does not protect the city, guarding it with sentries, soldiers, will do no good (Psalm 127:1).
For you to get result, that is, to be fruitful in what you do; you need God’s backing.
The reason being that:
• The spiritual realm controls the physical realm—whatever happened in the physical realm must have taken place in the spiritual realm.
• What you do not get in the spiritual realm cannot be gotten in the physical realm.
• If anything happened in the physical realm, an event must have preceded it in the spiritual realm.
The Book of Job throws or sheds some light on this; what happened to Job had been settled, decided in the realm of the spirit ever before it happened to Job. God had given permission to the devil to touch Job and all he had, but should not kill him (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-8).
If there would be any success in what you do, considerable one for that matter; you would need a supernatural hand or help in your life—on what you do—and that is from God: “HE WILL PROTECT HIS FAITHFUL ONES, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. NO ONE WILL SUCCEED BY [physical] STRENGTH ALONE" (1 Samuel 2:9 NLT).
In other words, success is spiritual. It comes through supernatural help—God’s help.
Whoever endeavours to build without God’s help, such would labour in vain (Psalm 127:2)!
Note: the fact that it is said that supernatural help is required to succeed, some people have gone to the devil—because he is a supernatural being also—to receive help.
But, the truth is, whatever help the devil gives to anyone would have sorrow added to it. It is only the blessings that come from God that has no regret or sorrow: “THE BLESSING OF THE LORD MAKES A PERSON RICH, AND HE ADDS NO SORROW WITH IT" (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV).
Those who did go to the devil for power, wealth, fame, or whatever, would have sorrows added with whatever they have collected or received from him—they will live to regret they did go to the devil.
You need God’s help in whatever you are doing, if you are really desiring a good success.
God does not want believers to live independently of Him, thus, He wants to be involved in whatever you do:
5 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; 6 IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT [make smooth or straight] YOUR PATHS” (Proverbs 3:5,6 NKJV).
It is not how much you work hard or strive that makes things work, but God’s help: “IT IS USELESS FOR YOU TO WORK SO HARD FROM EARLY MORNING UNTIL LATE AT NIGHT, ANXIOUSLY WORKING FOR FOOD TO EAT; FOR GOD GIVES REST TO HIS LOVED ONES" (Psalm 127:2 NLT). Also READ: Psalm 75:6,7
Some work so hard, do overtime, work additional hours in order to earn more, but all in vain.
Some even strive to get additional certificates that they might get a better job to earn enough money for living, but nothing to show for it (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
The truth is:
• Working hard, being diligent in your work, might be good and commendable, but without God’s help, you may not get what you are desiring—peace, rest and fulfilment.
• If you allow God in the affairs of your life, you get Him involved in the building of your life—home, career or whatever—you will have rest and fulfilment.
• God created you, He has the master plan of your life, and without Him you can but do nothing:
4 "ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF, UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME. 5 "I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. HE WHO ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. 7 "IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YOU WILL ASK WHAT YOU DESIRE, AND IT SHALL BE DONE FOR YOU" (John 15:4,5,7 NKJV).
A life that is not submitted to Christ fully can be full of crisis.
Therefore, submit your desires, goals and aspirations to Jesus Christ.
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!