[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-build":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-build-surround":65},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":12,"columnName":47,"date":48,"description":18,"extension":49,"image":50,"meta":51,"minRead":52,"navigation":53,"path":54,"postType":55,"publication":56,"publicationUrl":50,"seo":57,"stem":58,"topics":59,"__hash__":64},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-build.md","Be Careful What You Build",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9,10,11],"Matthew","Luke","2 Corinthians",{"type":13,"value":14,"toc":43},"minimark",[15,19,22,25,28,31,34,37,40],[16,17,18],"p",{},"Maybe it’s because he worked in a carpenter shop while he grew up. Or maybe it’s because the construction industry brings to mind so many vivid analogies with its tool-box full of saws, hammers, and nails. Whatever the reason, Jesus was fond of illustrations drawn from the business of building.",[16,20,21],{},"He observed that a building, like life itself, needs a firm foundation. One who hears and obeys Jesus’ words is like a man who builds his house on bedrock so storms and floods can’t destroy it (Luke 6:46-49).",[16,23,24],{},"Some buildings don’t need to be built at all. Groping for words when he saw Jesus’ glory at the Transfiguration, Peter blurted out, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Luke 9:33). Peter meant well, but Luke adds that he “did not know what he was saying.” Moses and Elijah didn’t need a thrown-together utility shed on the mountain when they could enjoy “a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1).",[16,26,27],{},"Some buildings demonstrate the misplaced priorities of those who build them. Jesus told about a rich farmer whose land produced a big crop. Desiring more storage space, the man decided, “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” With his well-stocked barns ensuring a prosperous retirement, the man assumed he could simply “take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” There was a problem, though. “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you prepared for yourself?’” (Luke 12:18-20).",[16,29,30],{},"Some buildings are poorly planned. Comparing a construction plan with the cost of discipleship, Jesus said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).",[16,32,33],{},"No buildings on earth are permanent. When his disciples admired the beautiful stones adorning the temple in Jerusalem, the Lord made a startling prediction: “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down” (Luke 21:6). Despite all its glorious architecture and its spiritual significance, the temple would not last forever—and indeed it was destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70.",[16,35,36],{},"We must be careful what we build. Every day we build a life. We build habits that stick with us for years to come. We build relationships with other people and with the God of Heaven. We build reputations for truth, diligence, and integrity—or for dishonesty, unreliability, and questionable character.",[16,38,39],{},"Words are our building blocks and love for others is the mortar. Through the words we say, write, e-mail, text, Twitter, blog, and forward to others, we build people up or tear them down. Whether they are spoken by mouth, printed on paper, or sent electronically, we will have to give account on judgment day for every careless word we speak. Jesus said, “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).",[16,41,42],{},"Let’s build carefully.",{"title":44,"searchDepth":45,"depth":45,"links":46},"",2,[],"Another Look","2010-04-11","md",null,{},3,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-build","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":18},"articles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-build",[60,61,62,63],"Biblical Theology","Spiritual Formation","Christian Unity","Discipleship","w8AU3GJnXOaxG740ortuPXVVondP1rLBnnyvgV2ayZg",[66,71],{"title":67,"path":68,"stem":69,"description":70,"children":-1},"Be a Lighthouse","\u002Farticles\u002Fbe-a-lighthouse","articles\u002Fbe-a-lighthouse","My friend Trond knows a lot about lighthouses. His home is located near a lake, with a small lighthouse next to the shore. Trond’s dad (who was born and raised in Norway) modeled the five-foot lighthouse after the 110-foot-tall Montauk Point lighthouse located on the eastern tip of Long Island, New York. That one was commissioned by President George Washington in 1792.",{"title":72,"path":73,"stem":74,"description":75,"children":-1},"Be Careful What You Say","\u002Farticles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-say","articles\u002Fbe-careful-what-you-say","Does your tongue ever get you in trouble? Do you ever over-share or under-estimate the impact of casual comments? I’m physically unable to put my feet in my mouth, but quite capable of saying something I later regret."]