Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. ~Psalm 127:1
We were about to build our dream house. My late wife, Bobbie, and I had discussed doing this for a long time. The basic floor plan had come from a house we had visited—and loved—when we lived in the Chicago area. We found a vacant lot in Tennessee that was just right, and we were ready to go. We had the house plan, the land, and the dream. We only needed one more thing—the right builder.
Since this was the first house we had built from scratch, we thought it might be a good idea to do a little checking around. We discovered that some of our friends who had built their homes had wonderful experiences, and of course, some had been through a nightmare. Some builders had been prompt and fair. Others had been undependable and crooked. Some disappeared when the house was completed, and others hung in there, continuing to be available for those inevitable punch lists of adjustments for months—or years—to come. We kept checking around. And as it turned out, once we were deep into construction, this process of choosing the right builder was even more important than we thought. Happily, we did choose the right one.
If selecting a contractor who will orchestrate the construction of the building where your family will live is a big deal, how much more important is it to find just the right “builder” for what goes inside?
Let me suggest that you first check references. If this Builder is any good, then plenty of families will vouch for his dependability. Don’t turn this responsibility over to anyone who doesn’t have a lot of happy customers.
For centuries, in cities, suburbs, and rural settings, the Lord has been in the home-building business. His happy customers are legion. Your town is full of such families. If you have any questions about the reliability of the Contractor, check these references.
A house the Lord builds contains a family who honors Him. Prayers at mealtime and bedtime are joyfully routine. Time alone with God finds its way onto everyone’s schedule. Family worship and church membership are predictable activities. References to God’s goodness, faithfulness, and grace mark ordinary conversations: “How good God was to give us such a sunny day for our picnic.” “I’m not sure what to do. Would you pray about it with me?”
Attempting to assemble a family without this Builder means setting yourself up for the greatest of nightmares—far worse than leaky roofs or cracking foundations. The Lord has a great reputation. He builds a solid house and has a great plan for ongoing maintenance. His skill and availability are legendary. You can’t go wrong.