What other scriptures highlight the futility of labor without God's blessing? Built by the Lord: Psalm 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Vanity Under the Sun: Ecclesiastes • Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 — “Futility of futilities… What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?” • Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 — “For what does a man get for all the toil… all his days are filled with grief… This too is futile.” • Ecclesiastes 3:9 — “What does the worker gain from his toil?” Sweat and Thorns: Genesis 3 • Genesis 3:17-19 — “Cursed is the ground because of you… By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread…” The curse makes labor weary and often fruitless apart from God’s mercy. Bricks Without Blessing: Tower of Babel • Genesis 11:4, 8 — Human ambition seeks a tower to the heavens; God scatters the builders and the project dies unfinished. Empty Harvests: Haggai’s Warning • Haggai 1:6 — “You have planted much but harvested little… you earn wages only to put them in a bag with holes.” • Haggai 1:9 — “You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little… Because My house remains in ruins.” Plans versus Purpose: Proverbs • Proverbs 19:21 — “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.” • Proverbs 16:3 — “Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.” • Proverbs 10:22 — “The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Abide, Not Strive: Words of Jesus • John 15:5 — “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” • Luke 12:20-21 — The rich fool’s barns prove useless when God calls him away that night. Only God Gives the Growth: Apostolic Insight • 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 — “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow… only God who makes things grow.” • James 4:13-15 — Plans must include “If the Lord wills.” From Futile to Fruitful • Psalm 90:17 — “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands…” • Colossians 3:23-24 — “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” |
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