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Genesis 11:1-9 record humanity's attempt to erect a tower high enough to reach heaven. While God noted how this unfathomable goal was within its builders' ability, their work greatly displeased Him because of their motives. Specifically, rather than working to obey Him and give Him glory, they were solely motivated by their prideful desires to display their presumed greatness, achieve unfathomable fame, and remain together in their city. Because of this, God intervened and confused their languages, preventing their work from continuing. Thus, the tremendous time, effort, and resources they spent were rendered vain due to them being utilized in a pursuit that was apart from God's will.
Unfortunately, many of us similarly strive to accomplish fleshly pursuits that prioritize our desires over God's. Rather than following His perfect will for us, we instead prioritize our reputation, richness, and pride through our careers, education, possessions, and relationships. While these pursuits are not wrong in themselves, they can become personal Towers of Babel when pursued apart from God's desires and will. Not only do these fleshly monuments waste our limited time and strength, but they also obstruct us from growing in our relationship with God, knowing His will, and serving others for His glory. Furthermore, the vanity of these selfish pursuits will become apparent in heaven when they are judged by fire as corruptible and worthless wood, hay, and stubble. Thus, like the builders of the Tower of Babel, anything we build in our lives that serves ourselves and not God will waste our time and energy, obstruct our walk with Him, and have no eternal value.
Fortunately, Solomon and the apostle Paul provide invaluable instruction on building a life that pleases God and allows us to receive His best. This begins by realizing that our lives as saved believers are built upon the foundation of Christ's salvation, as 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 state. Verses 12-13 reveal that we build upon this foundation with materials of varying quality that are gathered from our pursuits and works. On one hand, Solomon warns in Psalm 127:1-2 that all we build, guard, and strive for apart from God is vain, for 1 Corinthians 3:13 and 15 note that such works will be burned up and have no eternal value. Conversely, verse 14 notes that allowing God to build our lives with a deepening relationship with Him, growth in Christlikeness, and desire to preach the Gospel will earn us eternal rewards of gold, silver, and precious stones. Thus, while selfish pursuits will lead to a weak and unrewarding Christian life, allowing God to build upon His foundation for our lives enables us to receive His best for us in this life and in eternity.
Today, many of us are spiritually stifled by the personal Towers of Babel we erect in our lives. Instead of pursuing the eternal gold, silver, and precious stones God passionately yearns to reward us with, we instead foolishly waste our time and energy on amassing the corruptible wood, hay, and stubble of this life. Thankfully, it is never too late to forsake these temporal pursuits for the godly ones that allow our heavenly Father to build upon Christ's perfect foundation in us. This life He will build will allow us to intimately know and love Him, beautifully reflect His Son in all circumstances, and effectively plant the Gospel's seeds in unbelievers' hearts.
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