“Building solidly, building to last”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, November 22, 2022
1 Corinthians 3:10-23 (Forward, p 24) CEV p. 1192
I have had a fascination with foundations for a long time, yes, probably even before that summer when I worked in the construction industry. I couldn’t help but notice, therefore, that much of the freeway system, airport and skyscrapers in the San Francisco Bay/ Oakland area was built upon mud and fill which liquifies with even a fairly moderate earthquake—this, according to a geological map of the Bay area. Or realize that a major office tower in Edmonton has one corner of its foundation perched on sand due to a mistake in reading the geological map, interpreting ‘sand’ as being short for ‘sandstone’. (Fortunately, the rest of the building is on bedrock!)
The apostle Paul, in today’s passage, has much to say about foundations, foundations not for buildings per se, but for the church, and, by implication, our lives. He says that there is only one foundation that can be laid that will stand the test of time and eternity, and that is Jesus Christ. Christ is indeed ‘the sure foundation’, as the old hymn says. All of the other ego-boasting, self-absorbed substitutes, all our feeble human ideas and efforts, are just that, ‘feeble’. Our wisdom and our efforts pale when seen in the light of His; they match up pitifully with compared to Christ. So, as Paul says, “stop bragging about what anyone has done” (verse 21).
Paul, however, having said that the one true, stable, enduring foundation is Christ Jesus, says that we must be careful and deliberate in how we build upon that foundation. In other words, we are to think carefully about what materials we use. Now Paul never comes outright to say what these materials might be, but he does give us a word picture. He depicts the good materials as being durable, lasting things, things of value, like gold, silver and precious stones, over against such perishable things as wood, hay or straw. So here, maybe the things that Paul exhorts his readers elsewhere (in Philippians 4:8) for focus on are exactly the things he means, things that are true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing and commendable, things of excellence that are worthy of praise, are what he is speaking of. Certainly, we could not go very wrong in using such things to build upon Christ’s foundation.
But, then, there is a big question, namely do we really build upon Christ as our one, sole foundation, or do we humans try to build using other human made materials—things like our own wisdom and efforts? And even when we do build upon Christ, do we always use the best materials? Far too often in the Church and in our lives, I see substandard materials creeping in, things like pride and jealousy and ambition, things like love of pleasure or the familiar, things like fear of taking risks, fear of losing something dear or fear of the future. Surely those are not the kind of materials that Paul is alluding to, or that God wants. And, what we may not realize is that each of us, individually and together, are daily and continually in that process of building, of building both the Church and our own lives, and so there is a great privilege—and responsibility—that falls upon our shoulders. So, let us, you and I be careful in how we build. Amen.
Forward notes: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (verse 16)
Commemoration: Clive Staples Lewis, Apologist & Spiritual Writer, 1963
“In the Episcopal Church, we take this day to commemorate the life of one of the twentieth century’s most influential Christians, C.S. Lewis, known to his Oxford colleagues as ‘Saint Jack.’ No person has had a greater impact on my life than Lewis.
“On one visit to Oxford, my wife and I followed the steps of his life. We explored his home, college, and places he spent time with his wife and friends. We walked his favourite path, Addison’s Walk, where he experienced the Divine in such a profound way that it led to his conversion from atheism to Christianity. When we visited his grave to say goodbye, I was left with a sense of melancholy. I felt, in a small way, I had lived Jack’s story, and now it had concluded. Truthfully, Jack’s story isn’t over. He is no less alive in Christ than we are. He resides with Jesus, the saints, and all the company of heaven. Happy feast of Saint Jack, everyone!”
Moving Forward: “Who is your hero of the faith? Share it with us at #ForwardDaybyDay.