Solid As A Rock

Solid As A Rock
by Don Vess

1 Cor. 15:58 NASB- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

As I grew up in the church as a child before leaving the church for a number of years
during my adolescent and teen years, I would often hear of someone who was a constant in
the church referred to as being, “solid as a rock” or as one of the “pillars of the church”.

They were the ones who were always there and could be counted on by the pastor and the
rest of the body to be a stabilizing force in the church.

Let’s break this verse down.

Steadfast: Grk. Edraios- which has several meanings:

It means to be stationary, such as something that sits in one place for a long,
long time.

It describes something that is firm and steady.

It was frequently used in connection with foundations or support structures
in buildings.

It portrays something that is strong, unbendable, unbreakable, and
permanent, such as a well-built foundation for a large building or strong
column that holds up a roof.

When Paul urges us to be “steadfast,” he’s calling us to be totally reliable—not shaky or
undependable. We should be stationary in the roles God has called us to fulfill in the body of
Christ.

We shouldn’t be quickly shaken or easily lured to some other place or some other task. We
should be like pillars, foundations, or supports in the house of God. The passage of scripture could be interpreted, “… be reliable, dependable; not easily excited, shaken, affected or offended…”

The purpose of a pillar in a building is to support the roof or some other important section
of the building. What would happen if you suddenly jerked the pillar out of its place? The
entire building would collapse into a heap of rubble!

When God tells you to be “steadfast,” He’s asking you to be a “rock” in His house—like a
pillar that faithfully stands in its place and helps hold things together. He wants you to be
so dependable that people can “lean on you,” counting on the fact that you’ll always be
there to help keep things together. And when events occur, and they will, that shake
everyone’s world up a bit, God wants people that others can look to who isn’t easily
excited, shaken, affected, or offended.

Peter used the same word when he instructed the church to stand against the devil;
1 Peter 5:8- 9 Amp- Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at
all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce
hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against
his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined]….

The next word in the verse is “immovable” It is an “attitude” that we must possess if we are going to be of any value in the Kingdom of God.

Grk. Ametakinetos: Ami-tak-in-ay-tos-

It means-Not easily excited, shaken, or affected.

It describes- Something that is not changeable or unpredictable.

It was also frequently used in connection with stone structures or to refer to people who are known to have strong and unbending character.

Thus, this word portrays something that is solid, unbending, and not easily excited,
shaken, or affected; a person, building, or place that is constant, stable, enduring,
and dependable.

In other words, not the flighty, fickle, “here today, gone tomorrow,” “on-again, off-again”
type of person; rather, this is someone who is constant, stable, dependable. Because the
word describes something immovable, it carries the idea of someone whose attitude can be
described as:

Rock solid. Fixed.  Grounded.  Rooted.  Anchored.  Unwavering.  Permanent.  Stable.

The Amplified Bible translates 1 Cor 15:58- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm
(steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior,
excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually
aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
The Living Bible: “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always
work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever
useless.”

Are you a Rock in God’s house? Can you be counted on? If we are going to make our lives
count in the Kingdom of God, then that is what it will take. Be someone who is not easily
moved by circumstances, opportunities for offense or any other situation. What you do, as
it says in Galatians 6:7-9 NLT- Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You
WILL harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will
harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will
harvest everlasting from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the
right time we will reap a harvest of blessing IF WE DON’T GIVE UP.

We should be like a ROCK or a PILLAR in the house of God, in your home, business and
in life itself. Unwavering! If we are ever going to be someone who God can use in ministry,
it must be this way. To be effective in ministering to others requires wisdom, the kind of
wisdom that can only come from the heart of God. How do we obtain that wisdom?

James 1:5-8 NLT- If you need wisdom (and we all do), ask our generous God, and He will
give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your
faith is in God alone. Do not waver (be solid as a rock), for a person with divided loyalty
(Grk. Disychos- two minds, or double-minded) is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is
blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the
Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in
everything they do.

Make up your mind! It requires being “all in”. Jesus said, Luke 9:62 NLT- “Anyone who
puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
It begins by determining inside of yourself that you are going to be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding….

The psalmist said, Ps. 57:5-7 Amp- Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory
be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my very life was bowed down. They dug
a pit in my way; in the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah [pause, and calmly
think of that]!

Make up your mind that you are going to be “FIXED” on Him, the Rock that is always
immovable! Christ the Solid Rock that provide us a sure foundation through His Word
(Matt 7:24 NLT- Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who
builds his house on a solid rock.) Isa 26:3-4 NLT- You will keep in perfect peace all who
trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord
God is the ETERNAL ROCK (Who is FOREVER immovable).

We have to make up our minds that we are going to be “steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord.

Our labor in the Lord is NOT IN VAIN!

Prayer: Lord, help me to have a made-up mind! To keep my heart fixed on the Rock that is
immovable so that I am always abounding in Your Work because I know that I will reap a
reward if I don’t give up!