I can remember when my wife and I had our first child, Sara. We were like all new parents happy, excited, proud, but inexperienced in raising children. Oh, we had been around young children, even did some babysitting together. But, spending a few hours with a young child is much different than a 24-7 responsibility. And, like all first time parents, we needed help, advise, support, and prayer. We needed our LORD’s help in building our family, for without it (as our text indicates) we labored in vain.
Benjamin Franklin quoted our text to the struggling 1787 Continental Congress trying to raise up (build) a new government. He then followed the scripture up by saying: “Do we imagine that we no longer need [God’s] assistance? I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convinced I am of this great truth—that God Governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall without His notice, can a great nation rise without His aid? Many times during the revolution we have offered prayers to the Father of Lights in this very room. But now I feel that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”
Franklin understood that God’s direction and blessing on the new nation of the United States were essential for it to succeed. And, that human effort on its own, would produce little to no lasting effects. The logic was simple, but was missed by many over time, forgotten, set aside for individual wisdom of men, and political agendas, much like our nation today. Oh how we need Godly men in our government, for a great many that labor do so in vain.
Therefore, we too need to bring our LORD’s direction, blessing, and guidance into the construction of our families, so the foundations will be strong enough to stand against the storms of life, and not fail the test of time. Family is the core foundation of this country, and we need more men and women dedicated to building their homes upon HIM.
Thank you LORD for Your enduring Word and for our founding fathers who looked to You for guidance and wisdom. May we always do the same. Amen.
The Truth: “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the wind and rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
