When a contractor builds a mansion, many things must fall into place to complete the job. Setting a strong foundation, installing indoor plumbing, and placing insulation are just a few basic components of a masterpiece.
Rarely will a contractor ever use material he/she is unfamiliar with. Building extravagant homes has little to do with what materials are used. An extravagant home is built using the same materials a normal houses has, only using them in extraordinary ways.
Our spiritual lives are much the same way as the foundation of a mansion. Although there are many amazing aspects of life that make life astonishing, the foundation is what makes life a life in the first place.
Let me take you through one example:
Marriage is an amazing addition to someone’s life. I use the word “addition” very carefully. Like a hot-tub or a home theater room with a projector in it makes a house extraordinary, marriage can bring a simple life alive!
Important observation: Marriage is not foundational to a healthy spiritual life, just as a home theater room is not foundational to a home.
Building a spiritual life around a marriage would be like building a shack around a hot-tub. Although the hot-tub is wonderful, if set around cheap, trashy, or unstable materials, it is no longer a part of a home but simply a hot-tub in the middle of nowhere.
The point I’m making is many people try to derive more meaning out of their relationships with their significant other than God intended.
The apostle Paul had a fulfilling spiritual life while staying single for many years.
So what are some foundational principles of a spiritual life? Look no further than 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – NIV Version
God’s love is and always will be a foundational part of a healthy spiritual life.
Same with Faith.
Same with Hope.
This is true for all people. However, not all people choose to build these aspects of their life with excellence. Not all people focus their attention on building a strong foundation.
Instead, you find people trying to build mansions in their life out of materials like marriage, a career, a ministry, or anything else that’s not eternal.
When we derive eternal meaning out of something meant to be temporary, we are building an unstable spiritual foundation in our life.
Love can be found in relationships, but God is our source of love. God’s love is eternal.
Where do you derive meaning from in your life?
Are there aspects of your life you are trying to build a foundation around that aren’t solid or eternal?
What daily practice can you start/continue today to establish a firm foundation in Christ that will last forever?