Every year, we take our youth ministry students to a conference called RUSH. This year’s focus was on building on a firm foundation. In the lives of our students, they often build their lives on the foundation of being the best athlete, the smartest, fittest, funniest, or the prettiest. In our lives, we tend to build on the foundations of being the richest, most educated, most liked, or even seeming to have everything together. Over time, we realize that we have been building on sand. Even the things we do for God can be built on sand if driven by selfish motives.

When we focus too much on storing up earthly treasures instead of heavenly treasures, it becomes easy to idolize the things of this world, which can overwhelm and disappoint us, especially when life happens. However, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:24-27 that we have the hope of living a simple and humble life, a life that focuses on significance rather than just success.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

You see, there is a difference between hearing the words on a Sunday and doing them. There is a difference between knowing the love of God and showing the love of God. When we have an active faith combined with a kingdom mindset, our marriages, relationships, and lives transform. We start building on the rock, and no storm can shake us. Let’s focus on what truly matters and build our lives on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.