“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. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (I Corinthians 3:10-15 NIV)
Donald Trump is proud of the company he built and claims we will all be proud of the wall he will build on our nation’s southern border. Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple is also known for what he built--iPods, MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads. By all accounts, he was a creative (and marketing) genius.
The world focuses a great deal of attention on what we accomplish, but I am reminded this morning that the Lord has a different view of what we build in our lives. It is easy to get caught up in the world’s view of what’s important, whether it be the latest technological advancement, fame, or some personal achievement. We can be lured into thinking we are building something significant for ourselves. And by the world’s standards, we may be. However, the world is not the ultimate judge of the achievements of our lives.
Paul says there is only one foundation on which we can build that truly has any value and that is Jesus. That is a hard truth because there are a lot of people in this world who are doing or have done a lot of great things. Are we to conclude that if they weren’t doing those things on the foundation of Jesus, they are of no value? It appears so, at least for them in eternity.
There is no doubt people produce things of value to us, whether good deeds or good technology like the MacBook on which I am writing this devotion. But the question we all must ask ourselves is: Are the things we produce in our lives of value to God? For it is to Him we will one day give an account for what we’ve done.
Today, remember that regardless of what the world says about your achievements, it is the Lord who will have the final say on the value of what you’ve accomplished. His word is the last and the most important.
© Jim Musser 2016
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