Build Wisely

January 21, 2025

From Pastor Joseph Wamack

Family. The word itself could conjure up images of Wally and the Beaver-simple, good times, nice parents, family mealtimes together. But family for some is more like The Addams Family, or the Bundy family on “Married with Children.” Not everyone comes from a great family or enjoys family get-togethers.

A strong healthy family is the key to the fabric of our country. It is the key to growing up healthy and living healthy. It is the key to a healthy church life. But sometimes, it is not what type of family you came from but what you do about the family you came from. How do you react to your background? Do you want to be just like dad-or not anything like dad? Did you learn from a bad example? How did you contribute to the good or the bad in the family?

You are part of a family-even if you are single and live alone. There are moms, dads, stepmoms and dads, half brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, grandmothers etc. But there is also a work family, a church family-your support system. Family is the people you call home and that support you. But what kind of family are you helping to build?

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-the general contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he was ready to lay down his hammer.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker leave and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over the course of building the last home, it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It ended up being just a barely acceptable house. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house. It is my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. He might have cared more. He might have shown more love and attention to the details. He would have made that house a home.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But you cannot go back.

You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. You are a part of a family somewhere-would you want to have you as a brother or a sister? Would you enjoy coming to work to work with YOU? How about our church family at MAC? Are you contributing to making that a beautiful house of God? Where family and friends are welcome and safe?  Or are you a consumer instead of a contributor?

Remember-Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” God is the firm foundation for all house building. Build wisely church family. You must live in the houses you build.