Article December 26, 1936 Issue

Building not in Vain

NELLIE B. MACE

A rule which, if followed, would enable men to avoid fruitless effort and to win fruition in every right undertaking is set forth in the Psalmist's words, "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."

That men have not uniformly enjoyed successes commensurate with their efforts indicates that they have not in all their ways looked to God as the source of the true wisdom which they constantly need. The foregoing words of the Psalmist portray what many have learned from experience, namely, the helplessness of mankind without dependence on the continual mercies of God. They show the futility of hopes and endeavors which are not in accordance with God's wise plan; and they point to the certainty of harmonious unfoldment in experience of whatever conforms to divine Principle.

That which is spiritual reflects God and is ever subject to His good government. It is toward the spiritual and immortal, as distinguished from the material and temporal, that mortals must increasingly look and unceasingly strive, if they would learn how to let "the Lord build the house"—their consciousness of good—so that they may not "labour in vain." What the Psalmist metaphorically indicated Christ Jesus later more definitely explained in his teaching of man's true relation to God. He declared: "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth."

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A Changing Order
December 26, 1936
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