Thoughts for the Day

Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I have recently been watching programmes on catch-up tv about couples who are renovating chateau's in France. A couple of things definitely come to mind. Firstly the low cost of the chateau-castles, and secondly the enormous cost and work needed to make them habitable. Conclusion - they are quite mad! Having said that there are other lessons to be learned. If the roof is unsound water will descend through the entire house even into the cellars, and if the foundations of the moat, or the chateau itself are weak nothing built above them will be safe. These rules obviously apply to pergolas built on weak posts that were not cemented in and scaffolding not tied in properly (yes I've watched hospital programmes as well)

In Psalm 127, another Song of Ascent from the Old Testament, sung by people when they approached Jerusalem, or by the Levites approaching the Temple, the psalmist (likely Solomon) uses the image of a house to describe our lives. He says "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain." In other words what is built by God is truly strong, whether that is a house or a family, or indeed any project. But more than that we are offered only two options, either the work will be the Lord's doing or it will be worthless. The second verse also underlines the warning that the ongoing security of this house, or family, or project also needs God's involvement.

This psalm reminds us to hand over all our concerns at the beginning to our Heavenly Father, not waiting until we stumble through the floor-board; or fall of the ladder; thinking we can do any project without His help. If the Lord builds the house (or family or project) we do not labour in vain!

Lord God,
may You be the foundation for our life,
for our work and for our play.
Help us to build upon the promises
we made at our Baptism/Confirmation*,
continuing to mature as christians,
and learning to trust in Your strength.
So may we sleep peacefully in the knowledge
that we are following Your plans
as the master builder of our life.
Amen.

* or other occasion.