“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” Titus 3:14 ESV

With grandkids and visitors, my bride brought up a discussion about having something better for them to sleep on than a blow up mattress. When our kids grew up and left, she got one bedroom for a sewing room, I got the other. A regular bed was ruled out because it would take up too much room. A Murphy Bed was thrown out as an idea… and POOF!!! We now have one!

I say “POOF” in to be funny because is WASN’T like magic. But her desire DID became my agenda. Researching ‘Murphy Bed’ online gave me quite a shock because… they are not cheap! Being frugal, I found a way to get a new one for a fraction of the cost. But “I” had to BUILD the bed myself! Soon, I came home to a 7’ tall 80 pound box at my front door. And that was just the hardware…a 20 page ‘how to’ manual included!

After computing the needs, purchasing the wood at the lumber yard, then researching and ordering a mattress, it was time to get started. With 5 sheets of plywood at $50 a sheet, I couldn’t afford even 1 mistake. So I stuck to the basics, as my wife gave me the only piece of carpentry advice she knows…“measure twice, cut once.”

My daughter also likes to build stuff. She came over and we turned it into a fun project. Any difficulties were easily overcome as I remembered another old saying… “2 heads are better than 1… even if 1 is a cabbage head!” Having been a carpenter, owning all the necessary tools AND my having daughter’s learned experience as well made it an enjoyable project.

There are tools, materials and basics to building an effective Christian life. Starting with the need for Jesus Christ, reading and applying His Word, and looking to serve Him produces a life that becomes both good and fruitful. He supplies us with ‘everything we need for life and Godliness’ ( 2 Peter 1:3). Which is the point!

The point of the Murphy bed is for sleep. The point of Jesus Christ is to live and display fruitful lives by doing good works with Him. And it is no secret! We either are DOING Titus 3:14…or we are not. When I walk into the room, I can immediately SEE that Murphy bed. I must remind myself that as I walk through life, my Master always expects others to see HIM working… in and through ME!