A Wise Builder
1 Cor 3:10-15
1.
Now the beautiful fall leaves of Michigan
are gone, and the cold wind of the approaching winter makes us see the end of
this year. In this season of disillusionment and awakening, we clearly see the
reality of our life, what the end of our life will be. Our body is covered with
beautiful dress, and our life is decorated with worldly pride. In the end,
however, we will be totally naked before God and our life will be thoroughly
examined at the Final Judgment.
2.
Paul described our life as building a house. God gave every of us enough time
to build as well as enough resources and talents to build a house. Everybody
builds some kind of house in one¡¯s lifetime, though everybody builds different
house. Some builds a small house, the other a big house. Some of you have
almost built a house, while some of you are in the starting stage. Some of you
build a pretty house, while some of you build a strong house. Some of you might
be so proud of what you have built, while some of you might deny what you have
built. But, the Bible says that everybody builds a house as far as one has
lived one¡¯s life. The question is not what kind of house one builds but how
wisely one builds. We may learn some wisdom of building from the science of
architecture, but because the judge will be no other than God we would be wise
to learn from the Word of God to be a wise builder.
3.
A wise builder finds first of all a good foundation on which one builds. Concerning
the importance of foundation, Jesus said as follows: ¡°a wise man¡¦ built his house on the rock. The rain
came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house;
yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But a foolish
man¡¦ 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.¡±(Matt
7:24-27) We see more than million dollar house on California hillside collapse totally with
strong wind and heavy rain. They built a beautiful house with a good ocean view
but without thinking its foundation seriously. The tallest and biggest
buildings in the world are built on Manhattan
because the island itself is a great and strong rock.
4. What is the foundation
of your house, I mean, your life house? Is it your own philosophy that is made
of information collected from here and there and your own life experience? Or,
is it simply a popular trend or common sense without formulating your own
opinion seriously? Or, is it that of somebody else whom you respect and follow,
such as your teacher or parents? Or, is it simply your intuition and attraction?
Or, is there no particular foundation at all? Do you feel some problem with
your foundation? What if you have built a house and then repent it just before
your death or just after your death? Foundation does not belong to house. It is
separate, or it is not foundation. It should be objective and outside of us. It
should be an Archimedian point. Archimedes said: ¡°I can lift the globe if a
long unbroken stick and a fixed point outside of the globe are provided.¡± A
long unbroken stick might be made, but the Archimedian point is impossible.
Only the Absolute Other, God can be the Archimedian point for us. All the
foundations inside of the world are not really the foundation on which the
world can be built. The Bible says that ¡°no one can lay any foundation other
than¡¦ Jesus Christ.¡±(11) God is our solid Rock, and Jesus Christ is the only
Foundation on which we can build our life without any regret forever. We need
to check whether our foundation is Jesus Christ or not. Christ is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. If your foundation is Jesus Christ, it is ¡°By the grace
God has given me.¡±(10a) Human wisdom, whether it is your or others, has a
definite limitation and weakness. Human ideology, worldly popularity, and
temporary attraction are all sinking sand after all. Life is given only one
time, and you should not fail. It is not only your failure but also your
responsibility to pay in eternity. Life is not a play or game. It is the most solemn
and serious task of all with accountability and responsibility. Jesus loves you
and your life, and he will not fail you. Welcome Jesus Christ and build your
house on Him. Welcome Jesus Christ as your Savior, and He will save your life.
5. Jesus Christ is also the
foundation of our church. No pastor, no elder, or any human, or any theology or
any ideology may be our foundation. When Jesus Christ is our only foundation,
our church will be the pure and great instrument of God. Jesus Christ also
should be the foundation for your family, if you wish that you family would
prosper forever. Give your children not your own idea but Jesus Christ as their
foundation. As Joshua declared that ¡°as for me and my household, we will serve the
LORD¡±, welcome Jesus as the foundation for your family. Then, God will not fail
you and He will bless your family that your children will not lose their way
nor build a wrong house.
6. A wise builder is a
careful builder: ¡°each one should be careful how he builds.¡±(10b) He is always
serious and careful in building his house. He does not attempt to build easily
or carelessly, for it should survive in the test of fire: ¡°If what he has built
survives, he will receive his reward.¡±(14) His life and his house should have
eternal value and existence. For that, we need to use good material and build
precisely: ¡°If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly
stones, wood, hay or straw, his 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 man's work.¡±(12-13) Big or small does not matter, but
the quality of the work. Suppose that we are employed to build a house. Yes, we
are employed and sent to the world to build a good house! And, God will judge
our house after it is finished. Let us keep to build our house diligently and
precisely on the foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ!
