Many people who do things for a living eventually do things for themselves. For instance, I make a lot of video games for people, and once in a while I actually dip into the profits and make a copy of the game for myself! I was thinking about this, and was reminded of the old preacher's story about a builder. I have never heard this used in a lesson since I was a kid, so maybe it will be new to you.

Our story begins with a man who builds things. He is not just a builder, he is a builder's builder, the greatest and most renowned builder in the country. He is sought after by the poor and rich alike to construct their homes. Town governments compete for his time when needing new couthouses or other municipal buildings. Churches, markets, schools, amd even whole universities have his wizardry worked on them. Yes, the builder and his styles of doing things are very popular. Why? His buildings are solid, with a strong foundation, built to last in beauty and grace.

One day the builder notices he is getting less and less contracts. He is getting older, and while still much acclaimed it's becoming obvious the younger, up and coming builders are getting more and more of his contracts. Having never really thought about his future in great detail before, the builder finds himself embarassingly less well off financially than you might imagine. He closes out his career, quietly finishing up his last few jobs, and winds up with a very modest savings and no one interested in hiring him.

The builder does have enough to live on, however, and continues to study the trade. One day a rich man comes to him, and asks him to build a house. Not just any house, but a masterpiece, the crown jewel of the builder's entire career. The builder eagerly takes on the job. Howver, he does something that he has never done in his whole life. Why should these young builders be rich while he is poor? So, he cheats the rich man. He buys common marble for the floors, but charges him for the expensive, imported stone. He uses pine and charges for oak. He uses less nails, less glue, and a cheaper quality overall of materials while charging the rich man full price. When he is done, he has build a beautiful house that won't last more than 10 years.

When he has finished, he delivers the final bill to the rich man, who pays for it and tells him: "This house is not for me, my friend. Many of us who have appreciated you over the years have gotten together to pay for this house. This house is a gift to you."

Now, consider the story of the builder! When we do things as Christians, do we cheat our brethren? Will we go out of our way to help one brother but not another? Do we feel we are not appreciated, cast aside for younger voices, those who seem brighter, newer and smarter? Do we perceive ourselves, and the things we teach, to be outdated or out of fashion? Were we once the center of attention, but our ears are no longer tickled, our thoughts no longer sought out, our voices no longer strong?

The builder lived his whole life with integrity and honor. When he had a chance to build one last testimonial to his exceptional ability, he cheated himself. We have so many chances in our own lives, so many opportunities to do go. We can build a name for ourselves. We can be reliable, loving, dependable. Will we throw our name away? Remember, it is not our brethren we are cheating. It is not even God, who will reward us according to our deeds. We will be cheating ourselves.

Isaiah 37:3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

1 Kings 3:18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

Job 8:9 For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Ecclesiastes 6:3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Mark 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.