Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
Oh how we like to measure our worth against others, against ourselves, and against the world. How often do we measure our worth by our accomplishments? Is that how God sees us? Is that His standard for us? Isn’t the implication even within the ‘church-going’ folk’s question, “What have you done for the Lord?”, dangerous? Are we trying to ‘judge’ what is valuable by our accomplishments or by comparing to what others have done? How does God judge our accomplishments? What matters to Him? If we do things out of our own strength and desire… what will that be worth to Him? How much do our human expectations measure up to His? Are we more concerned about deep intimate relationship with Him or being seen by others, or feel a sense of ‘accomplishment’ in our own right? “See Lord …all I have done for you!” Do you think anything we do out of our own making will please God?
Have you ever just stopped and thought, “Lord, I just want to be with You, and listen to You!”? Do you stop long enough to recognize His Presence within you? Or are you SO busy trying to ‘accomplish’ what you think is important? What is the true value of an ‘hour’ of prayer? Depends on who you ask. Is that hour a true time of surrender and listening to the Spirit of God, or a monologue of your wants and concerns?
One can spend their whole life chasing accomplishment and have what things God really values at the end of it? What do you think will impress… God? Paul understood this wrong thinking within the human condition.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
Are you doing what you think needs to be done or are you doing what He has asked you to do? Oh, how often we mix those two things up …royally. We think He will be proud of EVERYTHING we do …especially if we slap His Name on it. Unfortunately, that will end badly for some.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22-24
Do you measure your own value by what you accomplished in the day? Do you measure your value by how much money you made, or by how many clicks you got, or by your rising fame and popularity each day? Do you think any of that is valuable to God? This is a trap we all fall into WAY too often.
Father, I surrender ALL of my wishes and needs to You! Jesus, I want to draw close to YOU! Holy Spirit I want to agree with Your direction for me today, please make my path clear and plain to see. Guide me in Your direction today… Lord!