Foundations

I read an article today about the mastermind of a ponzi scheme in SoFLA. Here is an excerpt: "Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein turned himself in to the FBI field office in North Miami Beach at about 7: 45 a.m. Tuesday, WFOR-Ch. 4reports.Rothstein, 47, is accused of running a $1 billion Ponzi scheme from his Fort Lauderdale law firm. He was seen walking into the FBI office in handcuffs."

I am sure many of us have heard about this man for all the wrong reasons. First, it was because of his "success" and now because of his demise. It all got me to thinking about what matters most and how we build our homes. Jesus says the following about building our foundations In Matt 7:

24-25"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

26-27"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

Wow. I want to build a good foundation so that when the storms come I will be a "smart" carpenter and not the "stupid" carpenter. So, the natural question is what "words" do we need to put into practice? If you look back, it is the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is exposing that God is more concerned with internal motivation than external rigidity. He wants us to love others as ourselves, to know that our lives should be lives of worship to God, to know that God sees all we do -- even in private and will reward us for that, that it all boils down to our relationship with him and with others. Those are his words.

So, the question is why is it so difficult? I went to the site of the World Trade Center over the weekend. I go there every time in NYC to remember. This time what stuck me was how deep into the ground the building went -- the foundation. It looks like there is no progress being made on the new building and you see that's just it. Foundations take time and there is no "gratification" when building a foundation -- there's nothing to see. Of course, when laid properly -- to the rock -- nothing will move the house. But, we all want to see the fruit of our labor. Jesus, however, says, "build the right foundation and you will see the fruit in time.....trust me." Of course, that's the battle isn't it, trust?

My encouragement is to build the foundation. Make them "foundational words." Storms will come. Start today. Here is an easy next step. Choose one of these to do:

1. Thank God for how he has provided.

2. "Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. "

3. Call your wife and thank her for what she does -- be specific like "Thanks for making sure the kids have dinner every night" or "thanks for being my friend even when I mess up."

Be the smart carpenter!