“For no one can lay any foundation other that the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

What do cliques, clubs, languages, associations, jobs, families, nations, hobbies, age brackets, churches, cars, ethnic backgrounds, and almost anything else that’s meaningful to us give us?  Identity.  They align or group us with others sympathetic to an identity and distinguish us from those that aren’t.  I’m frequently amazed at how strongly this resonates with Christians.  “I’m from this church…” or “So-and-so is my Bible teacher…” or “We’re a part of the _______ denomination.”  You see this in the early part of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, not a stellar example of a church by any stretch of the imagination.

In chapter 3 Paul addresses their cliquish carnality.  There was “jealousy and quarreling” among them (v. 2), evidenced by the fact that one followed Paul while another followed Apollos (v. 4).  In the next verse he begins to challenge this: “What, after all, is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Only servants, through whom you came to believe…”  This had to smack at one of their identity markers, and it must have hurt.  I saw this a couple years ago when I spoke in a workshop at a national gathering of campus ministers.  I used this chapter and substituted in names of Christian college ministries: “What, after all is Campus Crusade?  And what is Navigators? … “InterVarsity planted the seed, International Students Inc. watered it, but God made it grow.”  The reaction was predictable.  You could have cut the room in half.  On one side were the ones that “got it”, the mature ones.  They were smiling and even chuckling.  Not so with the other half, who were ready to stone me.  “Oh yeah?  Make fun of my organization, will you?!  We’re not taking this lying down!”  The difference in the two responses demonstrated either (1) how well people had their identity secure in Christ alone, and/or (2) how well they were listening to what I was really saying.

The point in Paul’s (and my) button pushing is found in verse 10: “But each one should be careful how he builds.”  You build God’s work God’s way: in partnership with God’s people, not exclusively in sub-groups.  And where sub-groups exist in the Body of Christ, they should work together wherever and whenever possible.  “One plants…one waters…but God made it grow.”  This is not rocket science.

Paul knew about construction, especially construction of churches.  He “laid a foundation as an expert builder”, whereupon “someone else is building on it” (v. 10).  Paul was particularly concerned with foundations, making sure that they were correctly constructed.  In ministry, this meant being the first to share the gospel and organize believers into a new church: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation” (Rom. 15:20).  Building the superstructure was fine for, say, an Apollos or a Timothy, but not for him.  He desired to be the first to insure he properly fulfilled God’s calling on his life.  I have had many similar experiences working with international college students.  Once a mid-level government official from Kazakhstan studying at Harvard was at one of our Christmas conferences.  While outside on a break, he looked up and saw a cross atop the roof of the church building.  “What is that up on the roof for?” he asked.  He was totally clueless about the significance of the cross, let alone why it would be on a roof!

So foundations are critical, absolute and necessary.  That’s why Jesus is the one foundation “no one can lay.”  Only God can, and he did, in each one of his people’s lives when they trusted him for salvation.  The Greek word for foundation means architect and builder.  Our foundation doesn’t chip, crack or wear out.  It doesn’t even slip away.  It is immovable and indestructible.  It is what “any man [can build] on…using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw” (v. 12).  The flames will test the quality of every believer’s efforts and motivation.  What survives the fire determines one’s heavenly reward.  But notice: the foundation is still there, and untouched by the fire!  “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those that are his’…” (2 Timothy 2:19).

Jesus finished his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) with these words: “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock”, or a strong foundation (7:24).  The house represents a Christian’s life.  Jesus says it can withstand the storms of life because of its foundation.  Does your life represent to others the presence of a strong foundation?  Do your responses to life’s storms indicate your confidence of a better future in heaven?