What does Psalm 127:2 mean?
The context of this verse comes from the opening lines of this psalm (Psalm 127:1). What's pointless, or futile, is to work for anything without reliance on God and godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 14:1). No amount of effort or ability can overcome something grounded on lies or foolishness (Matthew 7:24–27). All the effort people expend to build or protect things, when those efforts are not godly, are worthless sources of stress (1 Corinthians 3:10–15).Work is endorsed in Scripture. Even in the garden of Eden Adam worked. God had placed him in the garden "to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). In response to idleness among the believers at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul ordered: "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In his first epistle to the Thessalonians, he wrote: "We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). There is no sense in which this verse condemns work—only overwork that excludes God and produces anxiety and sleepless nights (Psalm 3:5).
By contrast, work that includes God by seeking and doing His will pleases God and leads to restful sleep. A clear conscience and trust in God bring peace of mind. The apostle James warned against working with an arrogant trust in one's own efforts and only a profit in view (James 4:13–17). He admonished, "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:15). Work done in the will of God is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
