God Builds No Churches by Edgar A Guest

God Builds No Churches

God builds no churches.  By his plan
That labor has been left to man.
No spires miraculously arise,
No little mission from the skies.

Falls on the bleak and barren place
To be a source of strength and grace.
The humblest church demands its price
In human toil and sacrifice.

Men call the Church the House of God,
Toward which the toil-stained pilgrims trod
In search of strength and rest and hope,
As blindly through life’s mists they grope.

And there God dwells, but it is man
Who builds that House, and draws its plan;
Pays for the mortar and the stone
That none need seek for God alone.

The humblest spire in mortal ken
Where God abides was built by men.
And if the church is still to grow,
Is still the light of hope to throw.

Across the valley of despair,
Men still must build God’s House of Prayer.
God sends no churches from the skies.
Out of our hearts they must arise.

(Edgar A. Guest)

This wonderful poem by one of my favorite poets trumpets a very important truth, especially for those involved in church planting or church growth.  We give God the glory whenever we build a new church building, whether it is a first building, a second worship center, a new education building, or family life center, and we should give Him the glory, because nothing of eternal significance happens apart from Him.  However, we must also remember that He has delegated the work of the church to us.  God does not actually raise the money and draw the plans and get the permits.  He has delegated that work to men and women and we are responsible for it.  Guest points out the “other side of the coin” in this great poem. 

This poem is great for a fund raising banquet, or to include on a program for a building dedication or many other similar occasions.  It is also very inspiring to Pastors and church leaders who are involved in the process of building anything for God’s church and God’s kingdom.

I have had the privilege of leading several different building programs and capital campaigns and this little poem has been an inspiration to me and others.  I hope it is a blessing to you, as well.