January is the month of new beginnings and we all start the year hoping for better. This month, my focus is on building and the first blogpost of the year was a call to action –. However, as great as it is to build, it is more important to build on the right foundation.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
It is interesting to note that in this parable, Jesus pointed out that both the wise man and the foolish man had to build. They both had to go through the process, they both had to gather materials and put in the work to build their respective houses. The only difference between the two of them is what they were building on – the wise man built his house on the rock while the foolish man built his house on the sand.
[Tweet “What are you building on and what can your foundation support?”]
As far as we can see on the outside, the two houses are the same. However, there is a fundamental difference in their foundations. The rock is a much harder material to penetrate and set a foundation, while it is much easier to erect a building on sand. It could be tempting to skip the hard work and simply build on sand – after all no one would be able to see the foundation when the building is complete.
[Tweet “Compromise is attractive in the short term but it ultimately costs more”]
Are you tempted to compromise and skip steps in your process? Do not assume that it won’t matter – everything matters. Even if no one ever discovers the compromise, it erodes your personal integrity. Each decision defines who you are.
This year, make it your priority to be excellent in the little things as well as the big things. Push the boundaries of possibility and strive to be your personal best.
The test of your strength comes when life happens to reveal your foundation. The rain will always fall at some point, and both the flood and the wind of life will test your strength. When the moment of truth comes, it’s too late to prepare or make adjustments to your foundation. The pressure of life reveals who you really are.
This is the time to dig the foundation and grow roots that go deep. This is the time to do what you know to do. This is the time to develop the skills that will be required when your elevation manifests. This is the time to do the secret work of growing and digging foundations. The process may not be glamorous but it would be worth it.
[Tweet “Take the time now to grow roots and dig foundations that will sustain your growth”]
