By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in the Wollongong, NSW area.
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. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:1-3
In this passage I see everyday occurrences, commonplace tasks and pursuits. Naturalistic explanations for these ordinary happenings satisfy the worldling. But believers know that the Lord must intervene if even ordinary events are going to succeed.
Notice that we need the Lord if we are going to be a success in our work, whether we are building a house or whatever venture we embark on.
We need Him to watch over us if we are going to be safe, whether we are guarding a city or whatever we are attempting to secure.
We need Him for the most routine of efforts, such as getting a good night’s sleep. He alone can cure insomnia or bring comfort and peace to a shattered heart, enabling sleep to come.
We even need Him if we are going to bear children. From conception to birth to adulthood, every aspect of life depends on Him.
Success, safety, sleep and newborns – we depend on the Lord for everything.
If you’ve ever seen the Lone Ranger’s episode ‘Legion of Old Timers,’ you remember that the elderly ranch hands think they are defeating the bad gang, totally unaware that the Lone Ranger and Tonto are behind the scenes helping them. What they attribute to ‘I don’t know my own strength’ is really the fruit of their hidden benefactors. This beautifully illustrates how we can forget how much we lean on the Lord.
Psalm 10:4 says, ‘The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.’ The word ‘thoughts’ carries the idea of plans. It is a characteristic of wicked people to live independently of God.
Father, I depend on You for everything. Unless You step in and help me, I will fail, my ventures will flop, and I and my family will be ruined. Lord, I renew my determination to thank You for the most ordinary gifts, and to cry out to You for assistance for run-of-the-mill tasks. Thank You that You care deeply and help faithfully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Kevin Harris is pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church located in Dapto, NSW.