BUILDING A LIFE
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares several challenging words. Some of those are in Matthew 7: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
Building Our First House
When we moved to Midland, we lived in several rental properties for a few years. Eventually, we decided to do something we have never attempted before–build a house. When I say build a house, I mean design a house and get a builder to build it.
The Good Foundation
There are two times in the building process that I remember distinctly: First, when they first broke ground for our house. It was exciting, fun and we would swing by the property to see what progress was being made. But then it became boring. Nothing seemed to be happening. Only one part of the house was being worked on–the foundation. It seemed to take forever to get that foundation done.
I wanted the construction to hurry up and get to the walls, rooms, etc. After all, I had never walked up to a house and asked to see its foundation. But they took a long time on the foundation. Why? It determined everything else about the construction process.
The Misplaced Window
The second time I remember is after the foundation was done and the walls had just gone up–the frame for the window at the front of the house grabbed my attention. It seemed off. Out of place. Not where it should be. Off-center. But I questioned my perspective. I was probably just looking at it wrong. There were blueprints, they were the experts–who was I to think it was not according to plan.
Alta Lynn, my wife, came and looked at the window and she too thought something was wrong. We decided to ask the workers.
It turns out that the window was indeed about a foot away from where it should be framed on the front of the house. It is easy to get off track. It can happen to any of us.
A good foundation and course corrections will always be needed for each of us as we build our life.
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus gives us a blueprint on how to build a life. And how we build our life makes all the difference!
Lessons On Building A Life by Jesus
A life is only as strong as its foundation
Before any building is ever started, soil testing is done, and piles of concrete and steel are sunk deep into the ground until they have a strong foundation.
Jesus tells us that our life foundation comes from hearing God’s word and then putting them into action. Then our life is securely founded. Otherwise, we are Biblically educated beyond our level of obedience.
Storms are headed our way
We all have a reaction of surprise when life brings a difficulty, adversity, a storm. We shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus told us that would happen. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Storms will test our foundation
Under good weather conditions, no one can tell how well a building has been constructed. The stresses and challenges of life reveal how strong our foundation is. The time to work on your foundation is before the storm, not during or after the storm.
Build wisely
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 (NIV). Each of our choices, big and small, build our life. We don’t think of it that way. We say: I’m just livin’ my life. Living my best life. But everyone chooses a foundation. Everyone builds a life. Wherever you are, you’ve been there awhile building.
Sometimes our prayer can be reduced to: God, please make the storms go away. But I want to encourage you to pray a different prayer: God, give me a strong foundation.