Every runner understands the importance of having the right pair of running shoes. For example, someone running in flip-flops or heels will not make it very far in a race. Even someone running with a tennis shoe with little support will struggle in any race they run. Indeed, we need appropriate footwear to provide a solid foundation for us in the races we run. When we have appropriate footwear, we have a solid foundation to walk on, even when the ground beneath our feet is rocky. The same is true with our spiritual lives. If we want to run the spiritual race that God has set before us, we need a firm foundation for our feet to walk on. We need to build our lives on Christ and His kingdom.
The apostle Paul encouraged readers that Christ is the only One worthy of building their lives on in 1st Corinthians 3. In this chapter of 1st Corinthians, he addressed an argument going on among the believers in the city of Corinth of whether to follow Paul or another missionary named Apollos. As he addressed this debate, he said, "Who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow" (verses 5-6). Paul was not concerned about whose role was more significant. He understood that it is God who does the work in the hearts and lives of people. He explained that in his role he had "laid the foundation like an expert builder" and that "now others [were] building on it" (verse 10). As he said this, he issued a warning to whoever built on the foundation that had already been laid, saying, "no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ" (verses 10-11). Jesus is the only foundation worth building our lives upon.
The question we must answer today is, what have we built our lives upon? Have we built our lives upon this world, or have we built our lives upon Christ as the foundation and anchor of our lives? I assure you, Christ is the only solid and secure foundation worth building our lives upon. As the old hymn called My Hope is Built on Nothing Less says, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
Will you commit to building your life on Christ as your firm foundation? Listen to the song Firm Foundation (He Won’t) by Cody Carnes. Sing along to this song and worship Christ for all He has done for you. Commit to trusting Him and leaning on Him as your firm foundation in the race He has set before you.
1Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
