Biblical Reflections · Christian Life

What are we building on?

5 min read, approximately

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have [wherewith] to complete it? Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.” (Luke 14:28-30)

On sand or on the Rock? (Matthew 7:24-27)

A soil study before building

If we asked a builder and a civil engineer what must be done first before building infrastructure, they would answer without hesitation: ‘a soil study’. A soil study tells us the maximum load the ground can bear, helping us avoid possible sinking in the future and spending more than originally planned. Arguing that ‘my neighbor did it this way without studying the soil’ is risky and even dangerous! (Thank you, Grandpa Carlos, for the explanation)

“My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee. Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man. Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:1-8)

Making mistakes as we build?

“We have been dating for 1 month and he tells me he loves me. I think we will spend our whole lives together… He also asks me to prove my love, so I will!” “Why study? I think my parents are wrong! What an old-fashioned idea they have!” “Lord, give me your blessing! I think I will go out stealing today” “We have been living together unmarried for 1 year, and I think we are doing much better than married couples” “With these credit cards, I think I will achieve a lot” “I think what I am studying will be of no use to me, so I might as well cheat” “I know this is not good for my family, but I think no one will find out”
I think, I think, and I trust my own opinion… We assume we know everything… How foolish we are!

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

We take our lives and build them on what seems right to us, without even carrying out a

“for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

“For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

It is time to build well!

It is time to leave foolishness behind and begin to understand that we must build everything, absolutely everything, on Jesus Christ… This is wisdom!

“Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Who enjoys suffering losses? Who enjoys watching their dreams crumble?

More pregnant girls? More mothers heading households? More families consumed by bank debt? More divorces because of unfaithfulness? More young people dead because of their parents’ poor decisions? Our building sinking?
What are we building on?
Let us suffer no more losses… Let us once again make Jesus Christ, our Rock, our foundation!

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!