Framework for life

For the full context of this post read Matthew 7:24- 27.

Ask any builder about the importance of a solid foundation, and all will provide you the same answer. Foundations are important! Jesus, a carpenter’s son, knew the importance of a firm foundation.

24 “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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27).

This parable provides a great mental image of how to properly build a house. These verses have been used to theme Sunday school songs. They could quite possibly be the inspiration for the three little pigs and the infamous big bad wolf. We understand this parable plainly. We can see it in our minds, and it makes sense to us. However, I for one, have never physically built a house, nor do I ever plan to. We need to have the ability to transfer this knowledge into our modern day complex storms and problems.

As one who educates educators, I know my students must get tired of me pointing them back to the theoretical frameworks of human growth, development, teaching and learning. I continue to stress theoretical frameworks to them anyway because I know that foundations are important. If my students can grasp solid theoretical foundations, then they will be well prepared for complex problems that don’t fit the textbook examples. What would happen if we built a solid foundation on the Biblical teachings from Jesus? I propose that if we could grasp Jesus’s teachings as a framework for life, then we would be well prepared for the complex problems and storms of life.

Covid-19 has shook the foundation of our world, nation, states, educational systems, professional environments, and even our homes and lives. What’s still standing? What has fallen with a great crash? There’s a lot of rubble from things which are no longer standing. There’s a lot of things that we are trying to patch into cracked and crumbling foundations in efforts to postpone or avoid another crash. What would happen if instead of trying to patch things we recognized that we needed to create a more solid base all together? What would happen if we were able to start from scratch? Would we do things differently? Would we build solid foundations which were better able to withstand the storms of life? Starting over is hard. Whether it’s a relationship that has crumbled, a business endeavor that didn’t work out, or if it is the pandemic of the world that has broken your foundation, take time to rebuild. Don’t rush it. Make sure you are able to grasp the framework for life which Jesus provides so that you will be better prepared for the next storm or complex problem which tries to make you crumble.