From the Pastor's Desk (Sept. 2025)
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those he loves. ~Psalm 127:1-2
I can imagine that your feelings when reading this passage are just as mixed as mine were when I first read it. If you have read any emails from me, you know that the first part of this passage is what I use to “sign off” in the signature line of those emails. The second part of the passage describes many of our schedules every day – getting up early, staying up late, sometimes working multiple jobs to make ends meet, which simply means that we are trying to earn enough money to eat, pay bills, and take care of all of our other responsibilities. And knowing how important those financial obligations are, many people would take issue with the word “vain” to describe that lifestyle of early rising and late settling.
Yet we must understand what is being said in these words, and that they are actually quite wise. The key to that understanding is reflecting on the word “unless” that appears in the first verse. Simply stated, the sometimes grueling parts of our daily routine (rising early, going to our jobs, working hard, earning money, staying up late, and taking care of our families in between) is only vain (futile, useless, purposeless) when God is not in the picture. According to Solomon, the work of the laborers building a house, guarding a city, or any other job known to man – and the hours worked to complete those jobs – are only vain if God is not the one behind those efforts.
In the Sunday Morning message on August 24, I referred to a quote from Charles Spurgeon who mentioned the effectiveness of the division of labor (that is, everyone has a different job according to their gifts and skillsets), but often the only one finding satisfaction in their jobs are those who feel their work is creative and accomplishing something – which is not as easily felt among those who feel like their work is always the same, day after day, and never seems to change. The jabbing quote from Spurgeon’s illustration was the one that said, No man does a thing well who does it sorrowfully.
If that is you, I want to encourage you. I understand that we don’t always have the luxury of changing jobs in the quest to find that happiness and joy in our work. But I want to assure you that if your work is done for the Lord, no matter how secular your job seems, it is not in vain, regardless of how much it may feel like it. Your work means something to someone. People would certainly notice if you didn’t show up to do your part, and there isn’t a job that is the exception. And each day at work is an opportunity to spend time with God if you work alone, or share God with others if you work in a group.
If you give God each day, He will ensure that your labor, regardless of what you do, will never be in vain. Keep that in mind as your celebrate Labor Day this month. And when you go back to work, commit the remainder of your days to the Lord, and let Him bring meaning to your efforts. Happy Labor Day, and keep up the great work, whatever you do! ~Pastor Eric
I can imagine that your feelings when reading this passage are just as mixed as mine were when I first read it. If you have read any emails from me, you know that the first part of this passage is what I use to “sign off” in the signature line of those emails. The second part of the passage describes many of our schedules every day – getting up early, staying up late, sometimes working multiple jobs to make ends meet, which simply means that we are trying to earn enough money to eat, pay bills, and take care of all of our other responsibilities. And knowing how important those financial obligations are, many people would take issue with the word “vain” to describe that lifestyle of early rising and late settling.
Yet we must understand what is being said in these words, and that they are actually quite wise. The key to that understanding is reflecting on the word “unless” that appears in the first verse. Simply stated, the sometimes grueling parts of our daily routine (rising early, going to our jobs, working hard, earning money, staying up late, and taking care of our families in between) is only vain (futile, useless, purposeless) when God is not in the picture. According to Solomon, the work of the laborers building a house, guarding a city, or any other job known to man – and the hours worked to complete those jobs – are only vain if God is not the one behind those efforts.
In the Sunday Morning message on August 24, I referred to a quote from Charles Spurgeon who mentioned the effectiveness of the division of labor (that is, everyone has a different job according to their gifts and skillsets), but often the only one finding satisfaction in their jobs are those who feel their work is creative and accomplishing something – which is not as easily felt among those who feel like their work is always the same, day after day, and never seems to change. The jabbing quote from Spurgeon’s illustration was the one that said, No man does a thing well who does it sorrowfully.
If that is you, I want to encourage you. I understand that we don’t always have the luxury of changing jobs in the quest to find that happiness and joy in our work. But I want to assure you that if your work is done for the Lord, no matter how secular your job seems, it is not in vain, regardless of how much it may feel like it. Your work means something to someone. People would certainly notice if you didn’t show up to do your part, and there isn’t a job that is the exception. And each day at work is an opportunity to spend time with God if you work alone, or share God with others if you work in a group.
If you give God each day, He will ensure that your labor, regardless of what you do, will never be in vain. Keep that in mind as your celebrate Labor Day this month. And when you go back to work, commit the remainder of your days to the Lord, and let Him bring meaning to your efforts. Happy Labor Day, and keep up the great work, whatever you do! ~Pastor Eric
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