1 Corinthians 3:10,11,16-23. One lasting foundation!! 20/2/11
{10} By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. {11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
{16} Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? {17} If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. {18} Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. {19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; {20} and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." {21} So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, {22} whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, {23} and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Our reading here today reminds us of an important aspect to the Christian life that we need to keep in mind on an ongoing basis. Without it, we will often be left wondering why our lives are a crumbling mess. The foundation of our faith is of great importance as we go on as God’s people, both in terms of the faith aspect of our lives as well as our day to day living. Unless we have a firm and solid foundation we will be left floundering.
Yet I wonder whether we are not like the fellow, who when he built his house, thought that the foundation was not of any great importance. So as he began in the front corner of his house that was exposed to the public and the building inspector he built a better than regulation foundation that would withstand anything that came its way. But in the other corner he found the ground too difficult to dig so he just made a shallow attempt but left it so that it looked as good as the other side. In the back corner, he was building next to a big gum tree, and being a bit of a ‘greeny’ he decided that he would not disturb the roots of the tree, while figuring that the strength of the tree would hold that corner firm. Then for the remainder he apathetically decided that he would take his chances and do a very mediocre job, cutting back on the reinforcing and the strength of the concrete. He figured that he would rather spend his money on that which would look good and give him plenty of room to enjoy himself.
So on completion, his house look huge and spectacular, but with a very poor foundation. But it looked good; and it brought him the praises of the people who looked at it. However, it was not long before cracks began to appear, and he would quickly patch over then and pretend that his house was still great. But eventually his house began to crumble around him and he was left devastated.
Now of course we are not that silly when it comes to us spending many thousands of dollars building our homes; and yet what do we find when we look at what we are building our lives on? When we look across our society and even our own lives, we see many a crack that has been patched over and lives that are literally crumbling around them. Our whole city and society is full of broken, crumbling lives that we are desperately trying to hold together, or ignore that it is as big a problem as it is. But it is there in a big way and the tragedy is ever unfolding.
But the question is, do we really want to know what the problem is? Do we really want to know what is causing the problem and do something about it? Do we? Really? I would venture to say that most people don’t want to know, far less do anything about.
But, here let us see that the same issue is at stake as it was for the guy building his house. The foundations that we are building our lives on are built with the same underlying thinking. We are taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that and reasoning that we can put it all together and that it will all work out. Well sorry, you wouldn’t build a house that way. And on top of that we need to recognise that as sinful, selfish people we will not get it right.
How can we expect our lives to work out when we think we can have a little bit of Christianity on one small corner of our lives; a little bit of this philosophy and a little bit of another somewhere else; a lot of selfish, ego-centric humanism as well; elsewhere a very capitalistic, money oriented thinking in another. And I could go on. But as long as it looks OK that is all that matters. And we are building on this thinking as our foundation and wondering why our lives are a mess.
When are we going to wake up? Probably we never will. We would much rather bury our heads in the sand than to take this seriously. Look at what is happening around us, Not only has people faith life crumbled as we think we can listen to a little bit of this flotsam and jetsam and a bit of something else; and say we are all ‘christian’ as long as we say we believe in God; and we don’t need to go to church to be a christain; and it is all OK. Is it? Look around you and see that the church has been decimated. Not to mention what is happening in people’s daily lives. And we are pretending that it is no big deal!
Now what does God say to us here in this reading? Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.
And….. each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is the answer that we need to this whole issue. Unless Jesus Christ undergirds everything that we are and do, we are building in vain. It is foolishness to think that we can have Jesus in just one small corner of our lives and the rest of our lives can be based on all kinds of other thinking. And it is utter stupidity to think that we can build our own lives, for that matter, doing what we or our worldly humanism thinks is right and good.
Surely Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us and all that he is and stands for is what holds everything together for us. We not only know deep down within us that we fall way short of what is good and right, but God himself has told us that this is what happens when we think that we can run our own lives. We have brought trouble, disaster and death on ourselves; however God in his love for us, chose to send his own Son, Jesus Christ, into our world to take the punishment that we deserve, on himself so that might have forgiveness and a sure hope that there is better ahead for us as we stay close to him.
Here, let us remember that this is God Almighty himself at work for good. His is not only the one who has made all creation but he is God – the ultimate authority, power and judge of all. He is supreme – whilst we are creations. So he is vastly superior to us in every way. So we will surely take him seriously. But even more so because of the love that he has extended to us even though we have chosen not to deserve it.
With that knowledge and understanding undergirding our whole life we are able to stand firm and strong, no matter what comes our way. We can look to him and find the guidance and help that we need in order to then live out every other aspect of our lives. Recognising that God’s Spirit lives in those who are connected to Jesus and built on him will receive what we need in order to make sense of and to live in a good way in every other part of our lives. As we spend time with God’s Word and apply it to our lives we find much that will help us to live in ways that are good and helpful rather than destructively.
But most significantly as we allow Jesus Christ to be the foundation of our whole life and to be our guide and helper, we are able to go forward with confidence and certainty, knowing that our lives are built on that rock which is immovable and constant. We are then confident that we are loved and forgiven even though we mess up; and that no one and nothing can take that love and the sure hope of eternal life with our God away from us. Built on him, our lives may face a battering, but will not crumble. We can stand firm and strong. All things are ours, whether …….. the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are ours, and we are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
There is the foundation that is needed and available for us all; and it will ensure that our lives will not crumble. But again, the question is, do we want to allow this foundation to undergird our whole life, or not? Do we want to give up on building our lives on what we and our wayward world wants. God’s Word is clear, but do we want to heed it? It is there; freely available to you all, but do we still want to build on a little bit of this and a little bit of that? Remember this reliable truth, there is only one sure and certain foundation and that is Jesus Christ our Lord. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
{10} By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. {11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
{16} Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? {17} If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. {18} Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. {19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; {20} and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." {21} So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, {22} whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, {23} and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Our reading here today reminds us of an important aspect to the Christian life that we need to keep in mind on an ongoing basis. Without it, we will often be left wondering why our lives are a crumbling mess. The foundation of our faith is of great importance as we go on as God’s people, both in terms of the faith aspect of our lives as well as our day to day living. Unless we have a firm and solid foundation we will be left floundering.
Yet I wonder whether we are not like the fellow, who when he built his house, thought that the foundation was not of any great importance. So as he began in the front corner of his house that was exposed to the public and the building inspector he built a better than regulation foundation that would withstand anything that came its way. But in the other corner he found the ground too difficult to dig so he just made a shallow attempt but left it so that it looked as good as the other side. In the back corner, he was building next to a big gum tree, and being a bit of a ‘greeny’ he decided that he would not disturb the roots of the tree, while figuring that the strength of the tree would hold that corner firm. Then for the remainder he apathetically decided that he would take his chances and do a very mediocre job, cutting back on the reinforcing and the strength of the concrete. He figured that he would rather spend his money on that which would look good and give him plenty of room to enjoy himself.
So on completion, his house look huge and spectacular, but with a very poor foundation. But it looked good; and it brought him the praises of the people who looked at it. However, it was not long before cracks began to appear, and he would quickly patch over then and pretend that his house was still great. But eventually his house began to crumble around him and he was left devastated.
Now of course we are not that silly when it comes to us spending many thousands of dollars building our homes; and yet what do we find when we look at what we are building our lives on? When we look across our society and even our own lives, we see many a crack that has been patched over and lives that are literally crumbling around them. Our whole city and society is full of broken, crumbling lives that we are desperately trying to hold together, or ignore that it is as big a problem as it is. But it is there in a big way and the tragedy is ever unfolding.
But the question is, do we really want to know what the problem is? Do we really want to know what is causing the problem and do something about it? Do we? Really? I would venture to say that most people don’t want to know, far less do anything about.
But, here let us see that the same issue is at stake as it was for the guy building his house. The foundations that we are building our lives on are built with the same underlying thinking. We are taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that and reasoning that we can put it all together and that it will all work out. Well sorry, you wouldn’t build a house that way. And on top of that we need to recognise that as sinful, selfish people we will not get it right.
How can we expect our lives to work out when we think we can have a little bit of Christianity on one small corner of our lives; a little bit of this philosophy and a little bit of another somewhere else; a lot of selfish, ego-centric humanism as well; elsewhere a very capitalistic, money oriented thinking in another. And I could go on. But as long as it looks OK that is all that matters. And we are building on this thinking as our foundation and wondering why our lives are a mess.
When are we going to wake up? Probably we never will. We would much rather bury our heads in the sand than to take this seriously. Look at what is happening around us, Not only has people faith life crumbled as we think we can listen to a little bit of this flotsam and jetsam and a bit of something else; and say we are all ‘christian’ as long as we say we believe in God; and we don’t need to go to church to be a christain; and it is all OK. Is it? Look around you and see that the church has been decimated. Not to mention what is happening in people’s daily lives. And we are pretending that it is no big deal!
Now what does God say to us here in this reading? Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.
And….. each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is the answer that we need to this whole issue. Unless Jesus Christ undergirds everything that we are and do, we are building in vain. It is foolishness to think that we can have Jesus in just one small corner of our lives and the rest of our lives can be based on all kinds of other thinking. And it is utter stupidity to think that we can build our own lives, for that matter, doing what we or our worldly humanism thinks is right and good.
Surely Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us and all that he is and stands for is what holds everything together for us. We not only know deep down within us that we fall way short of what is good and right, but God himself has told us that this is what happens when we think that we can run our own lives. We have brought trouble, disaster and death on ourselves; however God in his love for us, chose to send his own Son, Jesus Christ, into our world to take the punishment that we deserve, on himself so that might have forgiveness and a sure hope that there is better ahead for us as we stay close to him.
Here, let us remember that this is God Almighty himself at work for good. His is not only the one who has made all creation but he is God – the ultimate authority, power and judge of all. He is supreme – whilst we are creations. So he is vastly superior to us in every way. So we will surely take him seriously. But even more so because of the love that he has extended to us even though we have chosen not to deserve it.
With that knowledge and understanding undergirding our whole life we are able to stand firm and strong, no matter what comes our way. We can look to him and find the guidance and help that we need in order to then live out every other aspect of our lives. Recognising that God’s Spirit lives in those who are connected to Jesus and built on him will receive what we need in order to make sense of and to live in a good way in every other part of our lives. As we spend time with God’s Word and apply it to our lives we find much that will help us to live in ways that are good and helpful rather than destructively.
But most significantly as we allow Jesus Christ to be the foundation of our whole life and to be our guide and helper, we are able to go forward with confidence and certainty, knowing that our lives are built on that rock which is immovable and constant. We are then confident that we are loved and forgiven even though we mess up; and that no one and nothing can take that love and the sure hope of eternal life with our God away from us. Built on him, our lives may face a battering, but will not crumble. We can stand firm and strong. All things are ours, whether …….. the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are ours, and we are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
There is the foundation that is needed and available for us all; and it will ensure that our lives will not crumble. But again, the question is, do we want to allow this foundation to undergird our whole life, or not? Do we want to give up on building our lives on what we and our wayward world wants. God’s Word is clear, but do we want to heed it? It is there; freely available to you all, but do we still want to build on a little bit of this and a little bit of that? Remember this reliable truth, there is only one sure and certain foundation and that is Jesus Christ our Lord. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
posted by Roger at
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