Paul made it clear to us that the foundation for any healthy life was the foundation that has already been laid for us. Paul had worked hard at laying the foundation in Colossae. Through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit, God used Paul to lay the same foundation for you and me. There was only one foundation that would be strong enough and solid enough to hold the superstructure of anyone’s life. Paul wrote, “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (Colossians 3:10-11).
Notice in that verse that Paul establishes clearly the foundation as Jesus Christ, Himself. Paul and the Apostles laid that foundation in the Scriptures, but each person must build his or her own life on that foundation. We should build that life with great care. We should not skimp on the materials we use either. In the two following verses Paul adds, “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” Gold, silver and precious stones are the materials that will make for a good superstructure and a valuable life. In contrast those who build with wood, hay, and stubble will find their efforts in vein. In the material world, gold, silver and precious stones have an innate resistance to fire, especially in comparison to wood hay and stubble. It’s really a matter of focusing on what truly matters most.
In John Courson’s Commentary, he writes, “A fire department received a shipment of high-tech helmets. Brightly colored, scuff-resistant, adjustable-strapped, they were incredible works of art, complete with five-hundred-dollar price tags. There was only one problem: They melted when they got near heat. Likewise, the Lord has to say to you and me, ‘You’re getting your house together, and your car all shiny. You’re involved with this gadget and that gizmo, this hobby and the other activity. But they’re not going to take the heat.’ When our lives are tested with fire at the judgment seat of Christ that which is wood, hay, and stubble will burn. Only that which is gold, silver, and precious stones will remain.” It seems our culture replaces the foundation that Paul laid with the building material. Instead of building our lives WITH the valuable things of life (silver, gold and precious gems), many end up building their lives ON silver and gold. We should invest in what really matters most; Loving God and loving others!