If the Lord Builds Not the Family Legacy . . .

Proverbs 16
1. The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

We like to think that we are in control of who we are, how we think and what we say. Sometimes this thinking comes across like this: “Thanks God, but I’ll do it myself.” (or, to be more pointed) “I don’t need you, God.” We believe there is a God, but we want to live as though He does not exist. This is called practical atheism. And then we come across a verse like this and we wonder, “Is it true?” The truth is that while we act freely, we are not autonomous or independent from God. God is present in everything we do.

“For in him [in God] we live, and move, and have our being . . .” (Acts 17:28a)

This is just a fact based on the creature/Creator distinction. There is one God, and we are not Him. We are His creation. This understanding is important in every day life because it reminds us that we live in dependence on God.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God controls not only what we say and do but what we think and what our heart desires. Look at what happened to Lydia.

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” (Acts16:14)

God opened Lydia’s heart so that she could understand and act on what Paul was saying.

Now does this mean that we have no freedom in our actions or responsibility for what we do? No.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13)

Even though we are responsible to freely work out our own salvation, yet the result is from God working in us those very things He requires. Paul also wrote something similar in Ephesians 2:8-10.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [faith] not of yourselves: it [faith] is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We are God’s workmanship in Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus could say.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

But the opposite is also true.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Because God controls all things and because Jesus empowers us we can have confidence in the future.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

And this confidence in the future allows us to do our work with encouragement and hope.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Now you should begin to see how this applies to building a Family Legacy.

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

In other words we must actively seek through prayer God’s help in building our Family Legacy, and he will give it.

“Ask, and it shall be given you. . .” (Matthew 7:7a)