Nisi Dominus Frustra

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. – Psalm 127:1

Nisi Dominus Frusta, “Without the Lord, Frustration”, appears on the official documents and the crest of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a sobering reminder that those who live their lives in the family, the church and the civil realm without the Lord God Almighty participate in a meaningless and frustrated existence.

The Scriptures grant us a worldview of society in which we see that the foundational units of any society are the family, the church and the politic. But it also points us to the reality that the Lord must be the builder of each of these units if we are going to experience his rewards. If we abandon this central thinking in our lives and in our society we participate in vanity and a frustrated meaningless existence.

Benjamin Franklin, who was not a Christian, but understood this worldview spoke to those convened for the writing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787:

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence. To that kind Providence we owe this opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived for a long time (81 years), and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs, in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground with out his notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “Except the Lord build the housed, they labor in vain that build it”. I firmly believed this, and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall proceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

When we live in prosperous times we often forget God thinking that the success of our family, church or political realm rests on ourselves. In these times we think not about God as central and necessary to the building of these units. When we live in peaceful times we often forget God thinking that our beloved peace we have in our families, the church or in the political ranks or society is owing to what we have done. We think of ourselves and our methods as the primary sources of the rewards we experience. We do not know we are in a war and we think we are sufficient. Therefore we do not look to him who neither slumbers nor sleeps and who is our keeper. I fear in our homes, churches and the civil realm we are building a tower to reach the heavens and soon we will be frustrated and find all is vanity.

Unless we come on bended knee acknowledging that everything is from him, through him and to him we will build in our churches, homes and political realms in vain. Unless we come to him on bended knee and plead for understanding from his prescribed Word concerning how we should think and act in the building of our homes, churches and political realms we will build on meaningless and frustrated foundations. Unless the Lord builds the home, the church and the city we all think, feel and labor in vain.