Bobby’s Foundation
“I’m bidding a tow-ah,” said 4-year-old George. He started stacking the big red, blue, and green Legos. “Don’t dook, Auntie!”
“I won’t look,” Aunt Jenny said with a laugh. “I’m busy in the kitchen.”
“I’m going to build a taller tower,” said Bobby. He thought that he could do everything better than his little brother.
Clink, clink, clunk! It was wonderful how the Lego blocks fit together so tightly. Red, yellow, blue blocks. The boys stacked them higher and higher.
“Look at how tall my tower is!” called Bobby.
“Bring it to show me,” Aunt Jenny said.
“See?” said Bobby. But as Aunt Jenny turned to look, the very tall tower fell over with a CRASH!
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Aunt Jenny. “I think it would stay up much better with a foundation.”
“What is a foundation?” asked Bobby, picking up the tower pieces.
“It is something big and strong that you build on.”
Bobby ran to the Lego bin and pulled out a flat red base piece. “Like this?” he asked. Aunt Jenny nodded and showed Bobby how to connect the blocks to make a stronger wall.
“My tower is going to be better, because it has a foundation,” Bobby told George. “See?”
“Don’t dook at mine,” said George. “I’m not done.”
“How about I tell you a story of two builders while you work,” suggested Aunt Jenny.
“Did they build a tower?” asked Bobby.
“Listen and see,” said Aunt Jenny.
Jesus was teaching the people about God and the way to heaven. Many people had come to hear him. “Lord, that is right,” they would say. “I want to love everyone and live for God just like you are telling us.” “Yes, Lord Jesus, please help us do right,” said another.
Jesus looked at them and listened to their respectful words. But he knew that talking about good things was not enough. “Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven,” he told them. It’s not talking about it, but obeying God that is important. Jesus explained it like this:
If you listen to my words, and then go do them, you are like a wise man who wanted to build a strong house. He bought good boards and looked for a place to build. The ground was soft and sandy and it was easy to dig a place for the house to stand. But the wise man knew that the sand would wash away when the rains came, so he dug deeper. After awhile he hit hard ground, then rock. “This will be my foundation,” he said. The rock was harder to build upon, but the wise man knew it was worth it. Sure enough, the rains did come and flooded the ground. But the rock didn’t move. Winds blew upon the house, but it stood strong, because it had a foundation.
“Just like my tower,” said Bobby. “See how strong it is?” He held it up to show Aunt Jenny.
“Yes, but that wasn’t the end of the story.”
“I remember the song,” said Bobby. “The foolish man built on the sand.”
“But listen to how Jesus said it,” said Aunt Jenny.
Everyone that hears what I say, and doesn’t do it, is like a foolish man which built his house upon the sand. It was easier to build than the wise man’s house. It looked like a strong house, too. But when the storm came and beat upon that house, the sand just washed away. The house fell with a great crash and the poor foolish man was ruined!
“Let’s sing while we build!” said Bobby. Aunt Jenny agreed and soon they were all singing, “The wise man built his house upon the rock!”*
“Is Jesus the rock?” asked Bobby, when they had finished the last verse.
“Yes, He is the foundation you must build on if you want to go to heaven. If you build your life the way you think is best it is going to crash,” said Aunt Jenny.
“Just like George’s tower,” said Bobby. “He is not building it strong, like me.”
“How are you building your life right now?” Aunt Jenny said. “Does Jesus want you to put other people down?”
Bobby slowly shook his head. “No. He wants me to be nice and share.”
“I thought so.” Aunt Jenny headed back to the sink, then stopped. “It looks like someone has forgotten to sweep the floor and it’s nearly lunchtime!”
“I’ll do it after I finish my tower,” Bobby said.
“That sounds like a sandy idea to me. Remember building on the rock is not easy. You have to dig past your own selfishness and laziness.”
“See my tower?” asked George. “It’s tall!” Just then the baby came crawling up. Her tiny hands grabbed at the colorful blocks.
“Don’t touch!” George said, pushing her away.
“Why don’t you give her some Legos?” suggested Aunt Jenny. “Wouldn’t that be the way Jesus wants you to build?
“She can have my tower to play with,” Bobby offered. “I have to sweep the floor anyway.”
“Yes, that is best,” said Aunt Jenny. “I’m glad to see that you want to do the right thing, not just talk about it. I think that is beginning of building on the rock, Bobby.” She gave him a big smile.