Will Your Work Stand The Test?

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work." (1 Corinthians 3:10-13 NIV)

In a number of places across the country, storms are a challenge to daily living. People end up watching their hard-earned livelihoods, homes, and other property--destroyed by wind and rain. However, even in the midst of the destruction, some buildings remain, untouched, as though it had been moved until the storm finished its destruction.

Companies--who miss laying a solid foundation for functioning and surviving--cease to exist in the midst of economic storms--and people lose their jobs, homes, and families disintegrate as consumer prices rise and many are left standing as though zombies, wondering what just happened.

Families--who try to exist and survive without a firm foundation of love and respect--end up scattered like the wind blowing birdseed--landing where they may, not knowing how to continue for they have no foundation on which to build.

Everything that survives the test of time and trial does so because of having a solid foundation and the church is no different. The foundation in the church is Jesus Christ and if anyone attempts to build on any other foundation--they place themselves in position to be tested and most won't withstand the test. But this test--is not about wind and rain--it is about judgment from on high. If our foundation is Jesus Christ--then everything we do--should be according to The Word and not our own thoughts and desires.

Some people--have taken the above-referenced passage of scripture to mean that buildings used for worship services should not contain costly stone, gold or silver.  But if that were true, they also should not use hay, straw, or wood. The metaphor used is not about what the building is made of, but what's being done within the building. If our bodies are temple where the Holy Spirit dwells, what are we doing to them? All Believers are the Body of Christ--but what are we doing to demonstrate that our foundation is Jesus Christ?

I hate to belabor a point made many times, by many people--but when I see people who proclaim to be Christians and yet live in opposition to God's Word--I question the foundation of their proclamation--it cannot be Jesus Christ.

If we truly belong to Him, then we listen to what He says, understand what He says, and obey what He says. That is--if our foundation is Jesus Christ--we will not allow another to mislead and deceive us by trying to convince us otherwise. God's Word never changes, while man's fickleness is constantly changing--which is why the laws of the land are always changing to pacify those who choose not to live according to God's Word. For if we lived according to God's Word--there would be no need for laws and all would live in peace.

But the key to establishing a solid foundation about anything is in the ability of the leader to inspire and motivate others to build with care--that on which they profess to stand. Will your work stand the test? If not, perhaps, it's time to tear down the existing foundation of beliefs and rebuild on solid ground with faith in Jesus Christ--who never fails or disappoints.