As an elder in a growing church, I find my Sunday morning list growing longer than I can handle. I am trying to connect with new people, but I have still not met that family from three weeks ago.

I know the body has to look after the body, not just be dependent on a few leaders, but too many Sundays I feel like I am treading water while holding an anvil.

Now I am prone to a bit of hyperbole, but you get the picture. After church on Sunday, I am pumped, but exhausted.

Before a recent elders’ meeting, this topic was weighing heavily on me. A few days before we met, God put Psalm 127 on my heart, especially verse one.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

³ Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵ Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Often in church, we quote verses three to five about the blessing of children and having your quiver full. But God directed me to the first part of verse 1, “Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it.”

I felt God not only directed me to read it, but said, “Wayne, what do those big words mean?”, mainly, ‘build’, ‘labor’ and ‘vain’.

Why does God build and we labor? Time to dig deeper.

In the first verse two things are compared and contrasted.

If God does not build then our labor will be in vain.

I’m going to explain these three words in backward order, because it makes more sense to me.

3} Vain — ‘desolating, evil, destruction, uselessness, vanity’ (The results of man’s work.)

Wow not a happy picture. So if God does not build, then what I do (labor) becomes ‘desolating, evil and vain.’

What! You are not encouraged yet, well that is why I am looking at these three words in reverse. Wait until we get to number one!

2} Labor — ‘To toil, work severely, or irksomeness’ (Man’s work).

It just gets better. Again if God does not build, then my toil is irksome (love that word) and it all leads to evil, desolating vanity. Hang in there, number one is coming.

1} Builds — “To build (literally or figuratively), repair, obtain children’ (God’s work).

What? Say that again! Yes, ‘obtain kids (children). Okay, Lord, I think I am getting the picture.

Now I know why God directed to Psalm 127 and also said what do these key words mean?

I think I am getting the message of hope. So if God is not building, repairing, plus obtaining kids, then all my irksome toil is useless.

God must be birthing, the next generation in Zion, the church.

Our church family will have a full quiver if I learn to relax and let God be God, the Creator of life.

Maybe i can be a mid-wife’s assistant and just allow God to do the birthing.