Without Christ as Our Foundation, all we are living for is meaningless

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

King Solomon built houses, a temple, a kingdom, a family. In Psalm 127:1, King Solomon wrote, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." Ecclesiastes is part of Solomon's testimony to what happens to a kingdom or family that forgets God. As you examine your projects or goals, what is your starting point, your motivation? We must look beyond our activities to the reasons we do them and the purpose they fulfill. Is your goal in life to search for meaning or to search for God who gives meaning?

King Solomon summarized all his attempts at finding life's meaning as "chasing after the wind." We feel the wind as it passes, but we can't catch hold of it or keep it. In all our accomplishments, even the big ones, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments, but far beyond them in the love of God. Think about what you consider worthwhile in your life - where you place your time, energy, and money. Will you one day look back and decide that these, too, were a "chasing after the wind"? Let us learn how to build our lives on the Solid Foundation.

We must realized that wisdom alone cannot guarantee eternal life. Wisdom, riches, and personal achievement matter very little after death - and everyone must die. We must not build our lives on perishable pursuits, but on the solid foundation of God. Then even if everything we have is taken away, we still will have God, who is all we really need anyway. This is the point of the book of Job. Death is the ultimate equalizer of all people, no matter what they attained in life. But God makes it clear that what we do here has a great impact upon our eternal reward (Eccl 12:14).

Do you know the real reason you are working so hard? Hard work bears no lasting fruit for those who work solely to earn money and gain possessions. Not only will everything be left behind at death, but it may be left to those who have done nothing to earn it. In addition, it may not be well cared for, and all that was gained may be lost. Hard work done with proper motives (caring for your family, serving God) is not wrong. We must work to survive, and, more important, we are responsible for the physical and spiritual well-being of those under our care. But the fruit of hard work done to glorify only ourselves will be passed on to those who may later lose or spoil it all. Such toil often leads to grief, while serving God leads to everlasting joy.

Am I recommending we make life a big, irresponsible party? No, I am encouraging us to take pleasure in what we're doing now and to enjoy life because it comes from God's hand. True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God's guidelines for living. Without him, satisfaction is a lost search. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, thanking him for it and serving him in it. Those without God will have no relief from toil and no direction to guide them through life's complications. Real pleasure is from God. "Thou (God) wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalms 16:11

Reflecting on some of the shaky foundations upon which many of my friends seem to be building their lives, I am determined to share Christ with them as I have opportunity to do so. Will you support my efforts? Will you pray for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel? Will you pray also for Gentle Flame Evangelistic Association, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in charge? The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!