F O U N D A T I O N S

What are the foundational principles upon which your sport is built? Do they appear to be wise or foolish? How enduring will the lessons you learn from sport be? Today’s scripture contrasts foundations, foolishness and wisdom.

In Matthew chapter 7 and verses 26 and 27 it reads, “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.”

When you were on the beach last summer, did it seem like a safe place to build a house? Of course not. The tide alone would wash it away. Throw in an occasional hurricane and you’d have to be a fool to build there. That’s Jesus’ picture here. The house has no foundation to withstand the wind, rain or floods.

A house or a team built on sand is one that has awareness of the principles for success, but doesn’t employ them. Knowledge without application is empty and leads to destruction. In the story the house and all its inhabitants would be swept away in the great crash.

We probably all know athletes and coaches whose foundations crumbled and they suffered a tremendous crash. If we’re fortunate we also know people who have wisely built their athletic careers on strong foundations. Which will you be?

In your time of prayer today, ask the Lord to lead you to wisdom and away from foolishness. Ask him to help you build wisely upon the solid foundations of faith, hope and love.