Notes

Slide Show

Outline

1	Unless the Lord Builds the House Psalm 127
2	Introduction: Life is full of choices and the choices we make affect the person we become.
3	Psalm 127 is a wisdom psalm. It contrasts the wisdom of living according to God’s Word with the folly of going our own way. It addresses three of the biggest concerns we have – our home, our work and our family. It calls us to be more God-centered in every area of life.
4	I. Shelter and security are gifts from God. Psalm 127:1 Only God can make a house a home. When Jesus is present in a home there is a difference in the way people live and act and treat one another.
5	How do we build a God-centered home? It is a choice we make. “Choose you this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
6	Make him the Lord of your life and the Lord of your home.
7	In the same way that God makes a house a home, God is the One who makes a city or nation secure.
8	“No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:16-19
9	The city of Edinburgh, Scotland has as its motto, “Nisi Dominus Frusta” which means “Without the Lord Frustration”.
10	II. There’s more to life than work. Psalm 127:2 What do we lose when our work becomes all-consuming? We sacrifice our health, our relationships, our marriage and our family and our time with God.
11	“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:25
12	“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
13	“A good harvest is not the achievement of endless toil, but the result of God’s blessing.” NIV Footnote
14	God gives food and rest to those he loves.
15	Be honest with yourself. Are you putting God first in your life? Do you have time for your family and friends? Or is life so hectic that you just need to slow down?
16	III. Children are a blessing from God. Psalm 127:3 They are the legacy we will leave behind.
17	A classic illustration of that is the study that was done by Richard Dugdale and published in a book in 1877 comparing the family line of Max Juke with the family line of Jonathan Edwards.
18	Dugdale looked at the 540 blood descendents and the 169 people who married into the family and here’s what he found.
19	280 were paupers 140 were criminals 100 were drunkards 6 were murderers 128 were prostitutes 300 died early in life 67 had syphilis Their estimated cost to society was $1,308,000
20	In contrast, out of 1,394 known descendents of Jonathan Edwards there were:
21	13 college presidents 65 college professors 3 United States Senators 30 judges 100 lawyers 60 physicians 75 army and navy officers 100 preachers and missionaries 60 authors of prominence 1 Vice President of the United States 80 Public officials 295 college graduates
22	What kind of legacy will we leave behind?
23	I also liked this statement for parents “Sons (and daughters) may be a handful, before they are a quiverful.” Derek Kidner
24	Conclusion: The choices we make affect the person we become. They will also affect the legacy we leave behind.
25	Put God first in your home, your work and your family and you will be blessed.