Psalm 127:1
“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.”
If I were to tell you I have one ingredient that guarantees success, you would certainly be interested. If I were to market this ingredient and patent it so that none could steal it, there is no doubt that I would become a wealthy individual. There is no doubt that there would be skeptics with this type of a claim, but if it worked, it would be hard to criticize.
There is a true source of success. This true source of success is not a thing, but the true source of success is a Person. That Person is the LORD. In the verse above, God shows us that without Him we will fail. You may be able to succeed to a degree, but your true source of complete success can only be found in the LORD. There are several areas in which God shows us where we will succeed with Him.
First, your house will not stand if the LORD is not the foundation upon which you build. It says, “Except the LORD build the house,…” In other words, He must be the foundation of all you do. Everything must start with Him. Whether that house is the home, a business, church or a person’s life, success will not be achieved without making Him the foundation of all you do. In other words, everything must be built around Him. The LORD can’t be an addition. He must be the foundation.
Second, your labor will not succeed without the LORD being the source of it. You will never accomplish what you should or could without the LORD’s help. Too often we are all guilty of running into a project, then in the middle of the project we ask for the LORD’s help. With the LORD’s help you can make your time of labor more productive if you will ask Him at the beginning.
Third, safety can only be completely achieved with the LORD. Parents, you can try to keep your children safe from the dangers of this world, but you will only succeed if the LORD is the safeguard of your children. You can’t always be there for them, but He can. When you begin a trip in the car, ask the LORD to be the One Who keeps you safe. At night before you go to sleep, the LORD is the One Who can keep you and yours safe. All safety is of the LORD, and without Him you will not have the peace of mind that you desire.
Fourth, your sleep will not be restful without the LORD. Verse 2 says, “…he giveth his beloved sleep.” The best sleeping pill you can take is the LORD. If you’re having trouble getting rest at night, then ask the LORD to help you sleep. Every night before I put my head on the pillow, I always whisper a prayer to the LORD to give me the rest my body needs. You can wake up refreshed if you will ask the LORD for rest.
Fifth, your family will only be blessed through the LORD. If you want to make the most of your family, then build your family upon the LORD. This is where the greatest memories will be built. When your whole family serves the LORD together, that is when you find the recipe for a successful family.
Before you start anything, make the LORD the foundation upon which you build. He is the source of true success. Yes, you may experience a little success without Him, but your success will not reach its potential without Him.