Wasting Time 2021 03 28
Psalm 127:1, 2
It has been more than a year since we have been able to meet normally in person in the church building as the local church. Today is Palm Sunday, one week before Resurrection Sunday. Palm Sunday, 2020, was the first Sunday we did not meet together. We were able to meet together under restrictions for a short time during the summer and early fall, but could not legally open our doors to all, nor could we legally shake hands, or even stay and visit after the service. This week, we have more from our provincial chief medical officer – touted by the press as a relaxation of the restrictions – “allowing” religious organizations the privilege of meeting in their places of worship 4 times over the next two months. But the restrictions are so rigid that it does not open our doors, at all. They would allow 7 of us to meet, including the pastor and his wife. No congregational singing is allowed. Everyone has to wear masks. No pre-service nor after-service visiting is allowed. The government will look at how it goes and consider doing it again AFTER June 30th! This is all in spite of the fact that there never was any problem before the churches were shut down. In fact, the percentage of deaths from the virus anywhere in North America has been almost entirely in assisted living establishments. In other words, healthy people of any age seem to generally recover well. But while stores are open, including liquor stores, and the parking lots are full, churches remain closed.
What are we going to do? How are we going to continue as a church? Will we even have a church after the restrictions are finally lifted?
Psalm 127:1, 2
This Psalm is in a group of Psalms, from 120 through 134, titled, “A Song of Degrees for Solomon.” In the Syriac (or Aramaic) Version the title is, “From the Psalms of the Ascent; spoken by David concerning Solomon; it was spoken also of Haggai and Zechariah, who urged the rebuilding of the Temple.” There is strong evidence in the psalm, as well as the evidence of tradition, that this was composed by David, near the end of his life, for his son, Solomon. Especially fitting is the first verse to the man who was commissioned by God to build the temple of the Lord.
Especially fitting is the first verse, today, for millions of those who identify as Christians around the world and especially in the Western World, who want to build their churches themselves their own way, without referencing God and his Word, except where it fits into their agenda. Woe unto us if we take this same erroneous path! Perhaps in this time of restrictions we are being shown that it’s not up to us to build or save the church.
- 1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
- Except God is the builder, your work is wasted. The Bible never says that you are to sit down and leave the work to God. Instead, it says that your work is vain, a waste of time, unless God is the builder. A building contractor is called the builder, yet he doesn’t do it by himself. He has a full crew doing the work and himself may never even pick up a nail; yet in the end, he is the one attributed with constructing the house.
- This was true with the temple of God that Solomon built, and is true of the church today: If we try to build the church instead of letting God build it, using us as He decides and desires, it is useless. Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
- Note that Jesus did not say, as the Roman Catholic and many Protestant churches claim, that He would build the church on Peter. “This rock” refers to Himself, as is evident not only from the context, but also from many other scriptures that refer to Jesus Christ as the foundation of the church and chief cornerstone, including that written by Peter, himself: “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” 1Peter 2:6
- Again we read, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” Ephesians 2:20
- This was true with the temple of God that Solomon built, and is true of the church today: If we try to build the church instead of letting God build it, using us as He decides and desires, it is useless. Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
- Many churches, today, use non-judgmental, man-made gimmicks to try to draw in the crowds, mistakenly thinking that once in, they will be converted. This is man trying to build what the Lord Jesus Christ has said He will build. It leads to the death of many who go to hell thinking they are ok. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12; 16:25
- Pastor Jerry Scheidbach of Lighthouse Baptist Church of Santa Maria, California has written a book about this very thing, called “The New Cart Church,” borrowing for its title from the story of how David, in obedience to God, attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to his city, but though it was an act of obedience, he tried to do it his way, building a new cart to carry it, rather than having it carried by the Levites as proscribed by God. The result was disastrous, resulting in the death of Uzza (2Samuel 6).
- This does not mean that we are not to be busy in the building of the church, any more than the psalmist meant that Solomon should sit idle and wait for God to drop the temple into place. You are to be at work; but working with God as he works through you. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6
- Trust God to build your family and your church, no matter what’s going on in the world. This is critical. The best way to fail is to try to do it your way.
- Pastor Jerry Scheidbach of Lighthouse Baptist Church of Santa Maria, California has written a book about this very thing, called “The New Cart Church,” borrowing for its title from the story of how David, in obedience to God, attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to his city, but though it was an act of obedience, he tried to do it his way, building a new cart to carry it, rather than having it carried by the Levites as proscribed by God. The result was disastrous, resulting in the death of Uzza (2Samuel 6).
- You will be held accountable for the way you do the work that God has called you to. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:13 You can be confident that if God is not in the work you are doing, even if you think you are somehow doing it for Him, it will be shown to be a waste of time, burned up like wood, hay and stubble.
- except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
- Trusting in man rather than in God for safety is of no value; only God is powerful enough to protect against our enemies.
- Too often as we find ourselves trusting in our own goodness and strength, we fall into temptation and then sin because WE are keeping the city…
- Yet we see again the example: God is not saying there should be no watchman, but that unless God is watching over the city, the watchman is wasting time. We ARE to be watching. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15,16
- 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
- Getting up early, working late, constantly worrying about material goods – this, too, is wasting time. If all you ever do is work and worry to get ahead, it will rob you of your joy. Again, we are to work if we can. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 In many other places in the Bible we are commanded not to be lazy but to work. But we are to work to live, but not to live to work.
- for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
- God provides the very best for his children and in trusting Him, you enter His rest with joy. There is no reason to worry about anything as a child of God, but instead, trust Him, cast your cares on Him, and enjoy His peace. Those who constantly worry about work, getting ahead, and even how they are going to pay their bills often have a lot of trouble getting to sleep. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7
- Note how our Saviour slept peacefully in the middle of a storm at sea while his disciples cried out in fear!
We live in perilous times. Churches are no longer considered to be essential, while liquor stores and bars are. We could be like Peter, taking up a sword and trying to fix our world. But the right way is God’s way. On Palm Sunday, little did the people know that the road they covered in palm branches was the road to the cross. But though that looked like total defeat, it turned out to be a great victory at the hand of God. It is of utmost importance to rely on God for everything and to be thankful for what God gives. The world very often takes the exact opposite view of what is good, what is best, what is wise. God says that the way of the world is vain, useless, and empty, just wasting time. Trust God, obey Him, walk in His will revealed in His word, and thank Him for the way He looks after you! And remember: in the end, God wins!