“…(God) Himself gives to all life and breath and all things “…(God) Himself gives to all life and breath and all things. (Men)…should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him,…for in Him we live and move and have our being,…” -- selections from Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Acts 17:25-28)

Truths like what Paul spoke in Acts 17 remind us that the Lord is ultimately responsible for every human success or accomplishment. Man is totally dependent upon Him for whatever good he may do in his life. This principle is illustrated 3 different ways in one of the more well-known psalms… Psalm 127:1-2

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;…” Psa 127:1a

Attempting even common activities (such as building a house) without God’s approval or support is vain labor.

“Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.” Psa 127:1b

If God has determined a city must fall, all the watchman’s efforts to guard against the eventual attack are a waste of time.

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Psa 127:2

It is God who gives physical blessings… more than we can do for ourselves in getting up early or staying up late to labor.

God is even able to bless us more in our sleep than we can bless ourselves in our own efforts.

We might even add worship to this “list” of endeavors that God must approve for us to be successful. “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Mt 15:9