Walking With Christ

Every time I read the bible and gain a new understanding of one verse, I’m forced to go back and read the rest of the bible with that new understanding and context. I very rarely make it through more than a handful of verses before I find yet another new tidbit that requires that I begin again. Even reading the same verse, at times, will force me to read that very same verse again.

Luke 14:28-30 (28)For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (29)Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30)saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’(ESV)

Count the cost. This topic was covered in the men’s bible study I’m in on Tuesday mornings and may very well have been the seed that brought this message today. It touched on the topic but I think I was still missing something before it all came together. Moving on…

Building any structure requires three main pieces. The foundation or the solid and unshakeable ground where the structure will be built. The roof that will cover and protect the things inside of the structure. Then the supports, walls, or whatever else that is used to make a space between the roof and foundation.

A foundation with no roof can be perfectly useful for a great many things. It offers a solid place to stand. Without the roof, anything that is on this foundation will be left at the mercy of the elements. Without the walls to make space between the foundation and the roof there wouldn’t be much space for any use.

The different components in the structure each have a cost the needs to be determined before the project really begins or the builder runs the risk of not being able to finish, just as it says in Luke 14.

This isn’t just about building houses though. This is about building relationships. In a healthy marriage, there is God as the foundation that supports everything, the husband as the roof that protects and covers everything, then there is the wife who supports the husband and is actually responsible for making the space that we will ultimately call home.

How do we count the cost of a relationship, specifically marriage, before we begin to build one?

It has to start with the foundation. If there is no foundation then the house we want to build will not stand. If the foundation is not solid then the house will have problems that may not show up until months, years, or even decades later. Gentlemen, the walls will grow with time if you spend your time protecting the walls that support you. If you spend all of your time worrying about the paint but never worry about the structure then you will have beautiful walls that eventually won’t be strong enough to support you as you grow. It is better to have strong walls than beautiful wall paper. Ladies, if the roof you choose is not made of the right material then it will falter in the first bit of mild weather. We wouldn’t want a house with a paper roof because we know it will never stand up to much of anything for long. The roof must also be big enough to cover all of the walls without being so large that the walls can’t support it.

Even with the proper materials, damage or wear and tear happens so maintenance and repairs are a must. There may be hidden flaws in normally amazing materials. It happens. The house can be repaired so long as the foundation remains solid and the “bones” of the house are good. Choose building materials that will stand the test of time, but be willing to put in the work to repair or maintain them. In a relationship, mercy and grace are the biggest tools for maintenance and repair. All of the mercy and grace that humans can muster won’t be enough if the foundation of the relationship is not our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The foundation is the most important piece of the structure, in my opinion. Then the material that is used for the other parts must be sufficiently sturdy enough to withstand what life has to throw at you. Small and sturdy will stand the test of time. Large but flimsy offers the illusion of safety and security for a limited amount of time. The roof will never truly get off the ground, so to speak, without proper walls to support it. The walls can only do so much to build a structure without a roof to cover the exposed areas. It is the walls that keep the roof grounded and in contact with the foundation. It is only when these three components come together that the building materials become a house. Then when we fill that space with shared experiences and love, a house becomes a home. Over time, with focus and effort put into the maintenance and upgrades, a home can become a healthy stronghold or fortress where others seek refuge. A healthy home beckons others to seek the safety, security, and comfort that it provides.

There are a lot of ways to build a house. Choose wisely.