That question was posed in The Field of Dreams movie in 1989, starring Kevin Costner. An Iowa farmer hears a mysterious voice in the cornfield saying, If you build it, he will come. Ghosts of great players like “Shoeless” Joe Jackson showed up to play on his new baseball diamond.
Is that how it works?
Just choose my dream, and my success is guaranteed. I wonder.
What should I build?
Even if I had unlimited resources and could build anything, I can’t build everything. That fact is especially true when it comes to how I spend the rest of my life. My past has taught me costly lessons that would be wasted if I don’t make the right choices now.
If I believe Jesus’ story in Luke 12:16–20, I should forget striving to have more. A farmer had such great harvests that all his grain silos were filled to capacity, so he built more. That man would go to his grave never having enough.
Therefore, whatever I build should focus on giving more, not having more.
Can I build it?
If I’m not sure I have the resources, then maybe I shouldn’t try. Jesus said starting something I can’t finish is just a source for embarrassment (Luke 14:28). Wasting my time and money makes no sense.
When I anticipate all that could go wrong, I have no hope for success—at least not without help. But hiring help could be problematic, since the really good workers are too expensive and the affordable workers aren’t all that good.
There is one possibility. Maybe I could get God’s help.
Should I build it?
I’m not sure I can convince God that he should help me build what I want. But if I can work with God in building what he wants, I see no way I can fail. When it’s built, I’m not sure whether many people will come, but those who do come will be like those Jesus described, who accepted the invitation to the banquet and enjoyed the great feast (Luke 14:16–24).
Unless God is the planner and directs the construction, building a house is a waste of time, energy, and money. If the Lord isn’t watching over us, then our attempts to keep ourselves safe will be in vain. — Psalm 127:1