My friend Rob talked about foundations last weekend.
His church recently completed a new building. Rob described his frustration with the foundation phase of the construction process. So much time, effort, and money spent on a part of the building no one will ever see.
Rob spoke about Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders. He talked about the temptation to cut corners at the foundation stage. Anyone who’s ever been involved in construction, or thought about the principles on which their life is based, understands that temptation.
It’s a well-known parable, one I’ve used in my own talks. Not sure why, but for some reason it touched a deep spot for me this time.
Perhaps it’s because there are times lately when I feel like about all I have is the foundation, like just about everything else is cracked and broken and ready to collapse in the next breeze. Chronic depression has that impact.
When I feel like that, when I’m pretty sure there’s not much worth salvaging, I’m grateful for the foundation. I’m grateful that I know where I stand and who I follow.
Or maybe it’s because THE FREEDOM TOUR is rapidly approaching and it’s that time when at least once a day I’m pretty sure it’s not gonna work. I’m pretty sure we won’t have enough riders or enough volunteers or we won’t raise enough money…you get the idea.
When I listened to Rob’s message, I found myself asking myself a question: what’s the foundation? Is this thing built on our efforts, our talents, our vision? Or is it built on Jesus?
Because I absolutely believe that if it’s built on us and what we do, it may well collapse in the first breeze. But if it’s built on the foundation of following and trusting Jesus, I can do my best and leave the outcome to Him.
Just between you and me, I’ll confess that’s a long distance from how I feel most of the time.
But it is what I believe.