“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1).

That is, you can build a house, but if it is not of the Lord that you’ve built it, then of what use is it? It is a work of the flesh.

Abraham sought to build his ‘house’ — his family — and look what it got him. It got him Ishmael, the result of his own efforts.

This makes me wonder how many ‘Ishmael’s’ I’ve produced in my life. Keep in mind that an Ishmael can be a good thing; it’s just not a God thing. Good things and God things are not necessarily the same. Using Paul’s example from 1 Corinthians 3, the good things will get burnt up in the fire of judgment; whereas the God things will pass the test.

Looking back, I think of my company, how I built it up to nearly $3 million in sales. It was marginally profitable and fraught with problems. Not to mention it took a great toll on me for the amount of stress it imposed. As it turned out, God had to trim it way back to its present state, where it is not only manageable, it is even enjoyable and much more profitable.

It is best to let God build things.

I remember too an early day when, having been instructed by God to start a painting company, I had the idea of inviting a brother to join me in the venture. It was not only one of the most trying times of my life, it also ended in disaster. I was left with what was then a huge amount of debt, and Frank, the brother, went on to file bankruptcy not too many years after.

It’s one thing to start with God and quite another to try and finish on your own. To hear from God is good; to add to it, well, it might not go the way you think.

What God builds lasts.

I know that I am supposed to be in the painting business because it was a word from God that initiated it. Further, the word of the Lord has carried it. It has endured to this day because God has built it. The key to the longevity of a thing is it being God ordained and sustained. I think He has obligated Himself to tear down what is not of Him.

This is true of a life. A man can chart his own course to his own peril. The problem is with man is that he is like a sheep that has gone astray—he tries to determine his own way. Jesus had to die by reason of this.

Or, you can let God build your life. You can let God do what He wants to do, when He wants to do it, and how it is He wants it done. In large part, the Christian life is all about submitting to the Master Builder. Father knows best. The apostle Paul has some strong words for those who begin in the Spirit and then try and perfect themselves by fleshly effort. The idea is always be led by the Spirit as He is the one who acts on behalf of the Builder.