No excuse

Psalm 127
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

4 Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

詩篇 127
1 〔所羅門上行之詩。〕若不是耶和華建造房屋、建造的人就枉然勞力．若不是耶和華看守城池、看守的人就枉然儆醒。 2 你們清晨早起、夜晚安歇、喫勞碌得來的飯、本是枉然．惟有耶和華所親愛的、必叫他安然睡覺。 3 兒女是耶和華所賜的產業．所懷的胎、是他所給的賞賜。 4 少年時所生的兒女、好像勇士手中的箭。 5 箭袋充滿的人、便為有福．他們在城門口、和仇敵說話的時候、必不至於羞愧。

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(Copied from Life Application Study Bible ® Devotion - Day 87)

God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God. But working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family may be a cover-up for an inability to trust God to provide for our needs. We all need adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On the other hand, this verse is not an excuse to be lazy. Be careful to maintain a balance: work while trusting God, and also rest while trusting him.

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Psalm 130

1 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.

2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.

3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?

4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.

6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.

8 He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.