Having Children, Building a House

Psalm 127 speaks plain and true. Trust God or your work means nothing. Build a house, guard a city, raise children—it’s all wasted without His blessing. Some say Solomon wrote it, others think David wrote it for his son. Either way, the message stands: human effort without God’s hand is like chasing the wind.

1. Building the House: Trusting God’s Providence (Verses 1-2)

The psalm begins with a foundational truth: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” The concept of “house” here extends beyond a physical structure to include family, legacy, and culture. Building a household isn’t merely about material wealth but creating a space where faith, love, and tradition thrive.

Household-building is a generational task—a legacy forged through covenantal marriage, parenting, and community bonds. Alastair Roberts describes it as a “living organism,” growing through companionship, child-rearing, and influence. Yet, even with hard work and careful planning, success isn’t guaranteed without God’s blessing.

Eli’s house in 1 Samuel serves as a stark warning. Despite holding a sacred office, Eli’s failure to discipline his sons led to the ruin of his household. Hard work and vigilance aren’t enough if God isn’t at the center. Watchmen can guard cities, but unless God protects them, their efforts are futile.

Moreover, anxious toil—rising early, staying late, and striving from a place of fear—contradicts God’s promise of rest. Hard work is good, but it must come from trust in God’s providence, not fear of failure. Jesus reinforces this in Matthew 6:33, reminding us to seek first God’s kingdom and trust Him for daily provision.

2. Children: A Heritage and Reward (Verses 3-5)

The psalm shifts focus to children, showing they are not separate from household-building but integral to it. *“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”* In a culture that often views children as burdens, Scripture consistently portrays them as blessings and treasures.

Historically, children were essential for survival and productivity in agrarian societies. Large families could accomplish more, secure their futures, and extend their household influence. This remains true spiritually—faithful children extend the reach of God’s kingdom across generations.

However, children aren’t automatically a blessing. Eli’s sons, Absalom, and Judas remind us that children raised without discipline, godly instruction, and love can become sources of sorrow and shame. Psalm 127 compares children to arrows in a warrior’s hand—useful only if they are straight, sharp, and properly aimed.

Parenting, then, isn’t merely about having many children but raising them with intentionality, faithfulness, and a long-term vision. A “quiver full” of bent or broken arrows won’t protect or bless a father at the city gates.

3. The Burden and Blessing of Fruitfulness

While Scripture celebrates fruitfulness, it doesn’t command unlimited childbearing. The moral boundary is clear: life begins at conception, and no method of contraception that ends life is acceptable. Beyond that, parents must balance faith, wisdom, and their capacity to raise godly children.

Large families can be a blessing, but size isn’t a measure of righteousness. Abraham and Sarah had one son, while Goliath had several brothers. What matters is raising children who love the Lord and contribute to building His kingdom.

Modern Christians must also reclaim the importance of extended family. The nuclear family, isolated from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, often struggles to thrive. A holistic, multi-generational vision of family aligns more closely with Scripture.

4. Parenting from Rest, Not Fear

One of the greatest dangers in parenting is anxiety—constantly worrying about health, education, discipline, and future outcomes. Psalm 127 speaks directly to this: “He gives to his beloved sleep.” Parents must labor diligently but trust God for the results. We cannot guarantee outcomes, but we can trust the Lord to build our households if we faithfully follow Him.

Proverbs 22:6 promises, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Faithful parenting is a long game, requiring trust in God’s timing and providence.

Conclusion: Trust the Builder

In the end, Psalm 127 calls us to trust God in our homes, our parenting, and our daily labor. Whether we’re building households, raising children, or safeguarding our lives, we must begin and end with God’s blessing.

God builds the house, protects the city, and blesses the family. Our task is to labor faithfully, pray earnestly, and rest confidently in His providence. Trust the Builder, and He will bless your house.