Scripture Reading(s)
1 Corinthians 3:10-11
3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.
3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.
Reflections
Some of us may remember the old Sunday school two-story song “The Wise Man Built His House Upon A Rock” followed by the second part “The Foolish Man Built His House Upon The Sand”. Those words may sound fun when you’re singing it to happy tune, accompanied by some cool actions. However, the words ring loud and serve as a warning to where we as Christians set our utmost foundation of hope.
This passage serves us as a reminder that we cannot have a stable foundation if it is not set in Jesus Christ. The old Sunday School song tells us that when the wise man chose to build his house on the rock, it stood firm when the rains came. The foolish man that chose to build his house on the sand, when the rain came, it crumbled.
The same goes when we choose to place our hope in things that are either rooted in Christ or in what the world offers us. Jesus Christ is a source that can never be moved, shaken, or destroyed. It can withstand against any type of storm, enemy or thing that seeks to destroy it.
Each day we are faced with numerous challenges that can threaten the ground that we walk. Yet, with Christ rooted at the center of it all, we can withstand any type of temptation that is thrown our way. As a result of that, Ephesians 4:14 leaves us with this promise “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”. Our hope is built on Jesus Christ alone.
In the 16 years I have been a Christian I have seen a number of Christians fall away from the faith. I have seen friends of mine crumble succumb to life’s circumstances and others just lose hope. I have seen people accuse God of abandoning them and I have seen people blame their problems on God as well. I have also seen Christians friends flourish, even in the middle of disasters. I have seen Christians continually being blessed as they go about blessings others. I have seen Christians weather storms that most could not. So, why do some gather strength from the trials while others crumble? It is all about the foundation of our faith.
If Christ is the foundation we plant our faith on, it will support any house. But a foundation on anything else will eventually come to ruin. We cannot base our faith on our family history. We cannot base our faith on our good fortunes. We cannot base our faith on our significant others. We cannot base our faith on anything other than the fact that God loved us so much that he became flesh and died for our sins. He has not left us. He has not abandoned us. He is not punishing us. He is patiently waiting for us to obey and follow. A true relationship with the creator cannot be shaken.