August 28, 2011
Who’s your contractor?
When Donna and I were searching for a permanent home here in Columbia, a friend took me around to houses built by a range of contractors. It was amazing to see the difference between mediocre construction and quality construction. I remember one house in particular built by a noted contractor. The details and quality were notable. In the end, we opted for an older house. Through the years, I’ve realized it was not constructed by a quality builder. As a result, I’ve made a lot of repairs and improvements.
I was reminded of this recently when I read Psalm 127: Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it. I began pondering about God as a contractor. He is a quality builder and whatever He builds won’t need repairs or improvements. Best of all, He desired to build our lives. Problem is Adam and Eve assumed this position, made a mess, and passed their corrupt nature along with shoddy building skills to all mankind. Every person born begins life as their own contractors—drawing from religion, philosophy, peers, parents, culture, ad infinitum—seeking a workable blueprint.
In an ideal sinless world, when we receive Christ as our Savior, we would turn construction over to Him. Too often for many of us (self included) we make Him a consultant or sub-contractor. Only after building our personal lives, our marriage, and our family to look like a rundown shack, do we conclude that we aren’t qualified and let God take total control. We would spare ourselves a lot of pain if we let Him be the Contractor sooner.
Making Him the contractor doesn’t eliminate our participation. Contractors don’t normally cut lumber and nail down flooring. Rather they direct the process following a detailed blue print from a qualified architect. God gave Moses the blueprint for the Tabernacle. As the Architect and Contractor, the LORD didn’t cut or hammer a single board. He filled men with His Spirit and gave them skills of craftsmanship. Seven references are made concerning the fact the Tabernacle had to be and was constructed according to the pattern God gave him on the mountain. This is the same procedure for building our lives.
The Holy Spirit has given us the blueprint for life, marriage, and family—the Scripture and His guidance. Plus, the Holy Spirit lives within us and directs every facet of the construction. One mistake mediocre contractors make is trying to build too many, too fast. The result is a substandard building. As I’ve said in an earlier article, God is not in a hurry. He is a quality Contractor. He has already drawn the blueprint for every aspect of our lives, including the schedule.
You’re probably asking yourself, “Ok, what’s my part?” It’s really simple. Daily we fill ourselves with His word and continually allow the Holy Spirit to guide and to direct us, and don’t allow fleshly emotions to influence His pattern. We may ‘feel’ that we want to add a room or to eliminate a window. But is it according to the blueprint? Often we will not understand why God has designed our life a certain way. I’ve built several additions to our home. Sometimes the Code Book (building regulations) requires a standard that I don’t understand or don’t like. My way seemed much better. However, I later realized that I have a much stronger and safer house because I followed the Code book. God’s Code Book is His Word. We may not understand the ‘whys’, but we will have a quality life, a quality marriage, and a quality family if we build according to His pattern.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Is the LORD building the house, if not you are laboring in vain? Save yourself, your spouse, and your children a lot of pain. Make Him the Contractor and not a sub-contractor. You will be amazed at the details and quality.