The foundation for life.
1 Corinthians 3:11 - “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus.”
A man once said that “opportunity looks a lot like hard work.” This made me appreciate the fact that each job that I had was a stepping stone to greater opportunity. If I work hard and learn my craft then I will be ready and able to receive more responsibility which usually meant more compensation. This made me also consider my walk with Christ. Specifically Christ’s words in Luke 9:23 - Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
The deny yourself part in particular seems to be hard at first. It takes a lot of work, but over time it does become a little bit easier. When it becomes easier it allows for a greater opportunity to get closer to God and for more service for Him and His kingdom. Its results are simple: less of me and more of Him.
The same person then said that, “being smart, thoughtful and generous is what makes us beautiful, everything else pales by comparison.” Being smart means being honest about our strengths and weakness. Being smart is the ability to be truthful about our circumstance and condition. This advice again brought my mind to a verse. Romans 5:6 tells us: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” I am now smart enough to know that my strength comes from Christ and Christ alone.
Being thoughtful means, not to take out our circumstance or condition on others when things are not going as planned. Misery loves company, hurt people – hurt people. We are not to do this. Jesus told us to “love our enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” We are not to bring people down with us, but we are to comfort, edify and exhort one another to live a righteous, pure; holy and Christ like life.
Being generous is not only about our financial abilities, but it is being generous with the fruit of the spirit. Be generous with grace, mercy, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Be generous with your time and your talents. This is how we meet the needs of others and have a strong witness for Christ.
The man who had such words of wisdom then concluded that we need to “build a life and not just live one.” We should be actively engaged in building a life for ourselves as opposed to just settling for simply living a life. The foundation that we build our life upon is of the utmost importance because it will have eternal consequence.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:24 “"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. “
We have a wonderful opportunity for eternal life all glory be to Christ Jesus. We need to be smart enough to know that Christ is who He says He is, thoughtful enough to bow down before our Lord in total submission to Him and generous enough to give all that we have and all that we are to our Lord for His sake. He is the foundation that we build our life upon all else is sinking sand and will not withstand the storms of life.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7: 26-27 “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."
God Bless,
Pastor Rick Gault
Kings Creek Union Chapel