Unless...
Unless the LORD builds the house, you labor in vain. Unless God delivers it, you can rest assured that it will not come how you want it.
“Unless” is a key word in Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. The Once-ler tells the story of how his selfish pride led to the demise of the Truffula tree population. He cut down the trees, knitting a do-it-all piece of clothing and selling it for profit despite the warnings of the Lorax. The Lorax spoke for the trees and creatures in the valley. The Once-ler ignores the Lorax, building a factory to produce and sell his products until the last tree is chopped down. The Lorax, with no wildlife to protect, leaves with only a small pile of rocks put together for the Once-ler to remember him. The pile of rocks included the word “UNLESS.” The Once-ler retreats into isolation, pondering this cobbling of cobblestone for years until he finishes his story. He realizes what the Lorax was trying to say all along.
Unless someone cares, the situation will not improve. There must be someone who can effectively enact change with the passion to do so for the tide to turn. The Once-ler gives a young boy the last Trufula seed, hoping for the trees and the Lorax to return one day.
This idea of “unless” brings the meaning of what will or will not happen without a particular action or actor. For The Lorax, there must be someone to care enough for the situation to get better.
The word “unless plays a major role in Psalm 127. Unless a particular Person is involved, your actions in a situation won’t make a difference.
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Unless the LORD. This phrase is beautiful because it emphasizes the necessity of YHWH. God must be present in the situations, otherwise, we act in vain. Unless God watches over the city, the watchman, waiting to alert the authorities of danger, watches in vain. Unless God is with you, there is no point. Otherwise, you should go eat, drink, and sleep, for tomorrow you would die! Life does not matter unless the LORD is in it.
Unless your life is devoted to the LORD, then your life is meaningless. Unless the LORD is working in you, your work is vanity. Unless the LORD is the #1 point of focus for your family, you live in vainglory.
You can try to make all the changes, fixes, habit-changes you want. You can hire therapists, psychologists, gurus, and priests. You can recruit your friends and family to think good thoughts. Unless the LORD builds the house, you labor in vain. Unless God delivers it, you can rest assured that it will not come how you want it.