1 Corinthians 3:12-13 - Foundations / 1 Corinthians 3:12–13
Well, it is good to see you here this week. I am so glad you are here. This message is going to be a little unorthodox in that typically we say, “If you have your Bibles—and I trust that you do—turn to said book.” But we are coming out of a series in the Kings where we have covered forty-plus biblical characters spanning at least six different books: 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles.
What I would like to do is talk about a second pattern that we see in the lives of these kings and invite you to float with me in our Bibles a little bit. I am going to be firing off a bunch of cross-references because, whether we are in one text or not, we are still anchored in the Word. You can have your phone ready to cross-reference or flip around in your Bible as we go.
If you were with us last week, we talked a lot about the affections of our hearts. The people of God throughout the reign of the kings had two primary issues. The first was putting too much heart and trust into earthly kings, making them ultimate above God under the assumption that an earthly king would somehow make all things right instead of trusting the heavenly King. The second issue was the heart of the kings themselves. The pattern we saw was that the kings whose hearts were raised to the Lord did relatively well. The problem is that out of forty-plus kings, you only have a handful of guys on that list. The rest followed a pattern of disconnection from the Lord and drifting away from God because of their affections.
We observed that when we see deeds of the flesh and sin in our lives, we need to do what those kings needed to do: not merely deal with the externals, but raise our hearts to the Lord. Deeds are an overflow of the heart; they do not come from nowhere.
Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it [flow] the springs of life.
The Sinkhole Syndrome
Last week we talked about affections; this week I want to talk about foundations.
Years ago, when I first came to Christ, I read a book called Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. In chapter one, he discusses what he calls “Sinkhole Syndrome.” He describes a geological phenomenon in Florida where, during times of drought, the underground water table drops. That drop causes a lack of stability in the infrastructure of the earth. When it drops low enough, huge buildings and streets can literally collapse into the ground. Entire apartment complexes can just disappear into a ginormous hole because the water level dropped beneath the surface.
At the beginning of that chapter, MacDonald makes this observation: “If my private world is in order, it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity.” I have been fascinated by that concept ever since, because that is exactly what these kings were struggling with.
When we talk about foundations, we are talking about the inner work of what God is doing in your life below the surface—the water level of intimacy with God that allows you to hold up under the weight of the world. If we are not careful, we experience spiritual sinkholes. We get dry spiritually, we do not spend time in God’s Word, our prayer life becomes lousy, and then life happens. When life hits and you do not have the infrastructure and foundations underneath, a personal sinkhole opens up and you begin to collapse.
As you observe the lives of these forty-plus kings, there were three essential foundations they were lacking:
- Submitting to God through obedience to His Word
- Delighting in God through worship
- Enjoying intimacy with God through prayer
Before we unpack those, let’s address the elephant in the room. You could memorize your entire Bible, you could sing in worship as if your life depended on it, and you could pray all day without ceasing—and if you do not have Jesus in your life, you will still experience a spiritual collapse. Working on these three foundations is only good if it is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ alone, because He is the ultimate foundation.
Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 3 that if we build our lives on gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each person’s work will become evident because the day will reveal it with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If you build your life on anything in this world other than Jesus, when the fire comes, it will all burn away. But with Christ as our ultimate foundation, there are three practices we cultivate in response to the gospel that build spiritual strength so that when life happens, we can endure.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (NASB)
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is [to be] revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
Foundation 1: Submitting to God Through Obedience to His Word
When we look at the kings, only a few did well regarding the Word of God. King Asa did relatively well; 2 Chronicles 14 tells us that he did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord, removing foreign altars and high places, tearing down sacred pillars, cutting down Asherah poles, and commanding Judah to seek the Lord and observe the law and commandments.
2 Chronicles 14:2-4 (NASB)
Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the [sacred] pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.
Hezekiah was another who trusted the Lord God of Israel. Second Kings 18 tells us that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah before or after him, for he clung to the Lord and kept the commandments the Lord had commanded Moses.
2 Kings 18:5-6 (NASB)
He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [among those] who were before him. For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.
The only other king who came close was young King Josiah. While they were doing some remodeling in the temple, they found a copy of the Book of the Law. Josiah was so moved by the reading of God’s Word that he tore his clothes in mourning and sought the Lord because their fathers had not obeyed what was written in the book.
2 Kings 22:11-13 (NASB)
When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, ‘Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.’
In Deuteronomy 17, God gave requirements for the king of Israel. One requirement was that the king had to take a scroll and, in the presence of the Levitical priests, write out his own personal copy of the Law by hand so that he would read it daily and learn to obey it.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (NASB)
’Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. ’It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.
Obedience is the issue. A lot of people know their Bibles, but the foundation is built when we do what it says. Joshua had one of the hardest tasks in the Bible—following Moses. In Joshua 1, God repeatedly tells him to be strong and courageous, and then gives him this instruction:
Joshua 1:8 (NASB)
’This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Joshua was told not merely to read the Book of the Law, but to meditate on it day and night—bringing it to mind, thinking through it, and putting it into practice. God told Solomon a similar thing in 1 Kings 3: if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes, I will prolong your days.
1 Kings 3:14 (NASB)
‘If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.’
Jesus addresses this directly in Luke 6 when He asks why people call Him “Lord, Lord” but do not do what He says. He compares the person who hears His words and acts on them to a man who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When the torrents struck, the house stood firm. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built without a foundation; when the torrent burst in, the house collapsed immediately.
Luke 6:46-49 (NASB)
’Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ’Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. ‘But the one who has heard and has not acted [accordingly], is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.’
Spiritual maturity is impossible without obedience to the text. The Bible is not a rabbit’s foot or a lucky charm. You do not just carry it around and absorb it by osmosis. You have to read it and do the legwork of obeying it.
To build this foundation, we need regular Bible intake. That includes:
- Personal devotional reading: Spending regular, dedicated time in the Scriptures. Devotionals are fine, but do not settle only for other people’s thoughts on the Bible. The Holy Spirit who inspired the text lives inside of you—let God speak to you directly from His Word.
- Personal Bible study: Digging into cross-references, study guides, and commentaries to understand the depth of Scripture.
- Actively listening to sound teaching: Leaning in when you sit under the Word with your Bible and notebook open, ready to receive spiritual nourishment.
- Discussing the Word with others: Talking about Scripture with your family, friends, and small group.
- Memorizing Scripture: Hiding God’s Word in your heart so that you can walk in purity and truth.
Psalms 119:9-11 (NASB)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping [it] according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Foundation 2: Delighting in God Through Worship
Worship can be one of the most divisive issues in churches because everyone has personal preferences. In many ways, technology has amplified our pickiness. We can skip a song the second we do not like a particular part. But worship is not about our musical preferences; it is about our allegiance to God.
To worship means to profess allegiance, to bow down, to prostrate oneself, and to acknowledge worth. When we consider God’s glory, His renown, His power, His holiness, and His grace, we realize, “Lord, You are awesome, and I am an ant. What a privilege it is to be in Your presence and lift You up.”
In Isaiah 6, the prophet sees the Lord high and lifted up, the train of His robe filling the temple, with seraphim calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” When the foundations shook, Isaiah’s response was, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! I am a man of unclean lips.” That is the posture of true worship.
Isaiah 6:1-5 (NASB)
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’
David was called a man after God’s own heart, and he penned about half of the Psalms. He understood what it meant to delight in God through praise.
Psalms 18:1-3 (NASB)
For the choir director. A [Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said, ‘I love You, O LORD, my strength.’ The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 66 captures this vibrant heart of worship as well:
Psalms 66:1-4 (NASB)
For the choir director. A Song. A Psalm. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ’How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. ‘All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.’ Selah.
Think about the contrast between how we express excitement in daily life versus how we worship. When your favorite sports team scores a game-winning run or touchdown in the final seconds, you jump up, scream, pump your fists, and celebrate. Yet when we come to church to praise the God who spoke the universe into existence, breathed life into dirt, and redeemed our souls from destruction, we can stand there completely disengaged.
He who has been forgiven much loves much. Have you forgotten the depth of your sin and the weight of the iniquity you could never carry on your own? By His grace, Christ shed His blood so that you could enter the throne of grace with confidence. We should be a people who erupt with genuine praise and delight in our God because He is so good.
Foundation 3: Enjoying Intimacy with God Through Prayer
Throughout history, people across cultures have offered prayers to appease angry deities. But biblical prayer is not about placating a distant God; it is about enjoying reciprocal relationship and deep intimacy with our Heavenly Father.
Early in Israel’s history, prayers were often recited, like the Shema in Deuteronomy 6. Over time, as the priesthood developed, people began to rely entirely on mediators. In 1 Samuel 12, when the people realized their error in demanding a king, they pleaded with Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, so that we may not die.” They did not yet grasp the invitation to personal intimacy with God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)
’Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
1 Samuel 12:19 (NASB)
Then all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins [this] evil by asking for ourselves a king.’
Prayer is not meant to be just complaining in God’s direction or reciting a script from memory. Think about a marriage. A healthy marriage requires communication. If I do not talk to my wife, we drift toward isolation. I communicate with her because I want to hear her heart, know her joys, understand her fears, and share my life with her.
If the only thing I ever said to my wife was my wedding vows repeated over and over like a robot, she would say, “Talk to me!” In the same way, God invites us to talk with Him openly. Because of Christ, we can approach Him freely.
Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus modeled this intimacy. Luke 5 tells us that Jesus would often slip away into the wilderness to pray. The disciples watched Jesus perform miracles—healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water—yet the only thing they ever asked Him to teach them was how to pray. When they saw Jesus praying, they recognized an intimacy with the Father that was entirely different from the performative prayers of the religious leaders.
Luke 5:16 (NASB)
But Jesus Himself would [often] slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Luke 11:1 (NASB)
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.’
I want to encourage you to build a regular rhythm of prayer in your daily life. Scripture invites us to pray without ceasing. You can pray in a quiet closet, while driving your car, while walking through your neighborhood, or while resting in silence. Practice quiet moments where you let the Lord bring Scripture to your mind and lay burdens on your heart.
Building Below the Surface
What we learn from the kings is that while their affections were easily wooed away from God, their downfall came because they lacked foundations. The kings who spent time in God’s Word, sought Him in prayer, and walked in worship had a foundation that held firm when crisis arrived. Those who neglected these foundations collapsed when calamity struck.
A wise man once said, “When your output exceeds your intake, your upkeep becomes your downfall.” We live in a world that constantly demands more from us. If you are giving out without replenishing the foundations through God’s Word, worship, and prayer, you become vulnerable to a spiritual sinkhole.
Let us be a people who build our lives on Jesus Christ and diligently cultivate the foundations below the surface.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the finished work of Jesus. Thank You for the invitation to live differently from the world around us. As we embrace Christ, help us tend to the foundations below the surface so that we are strengthened for the days ahead.
Lord, make our time in Your Word refreshing as we study and obey it. Make our worship a genuine delight as we lift up Your holy and awesome name. Make our prayer life deeply intimate as we hear from You and pour out our hearts to You. Build these foundations in us so that we may stand firm and persevere to the end. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.