Building Your House
Matt 7:24-27
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
NKJV
The statistics are staggering. I read an article today that stated that 50% of all first-time marriages, 67% of second marriages, and 74% of third marriages end in divorce. This provides a bleak view for the future of most of our homes. Perhaps that is why fewer people are choosing marriage and opting instead, for live-in relationships. But does that really prevent the perceived threat of being hurt and rejected? Not at all. Rather, it will likely result in shattered people with even more baggage to bring into marriage. With those odds, what can we do to protect our homes?
These Scriptures speak beautifully about establishing strong marriages and happy families. But they are about more than even that. They tells us how to live all of our life- how to conduct our finances, our relationships, our work ethic, etc. In truth, these verses tell how to find the way to happiness in any type of situation. We must build upon the right foundation. That is paramount. But the thing that leapt off the page for me today, was the importance of establishing our home upon the Rock.
The family, or home, is where we receive self-esteem, acceptance and morals. The family is where we learn truth about ourselves and about God. If our homes are in disarray, what will the rest of our lives look like? One does not even need to guess the answer. The reality is evident all around us. No wonder teens are turning to promiscuity, drugs, alcohol, suicide and pornography. We have lost our moral compass as a society. Our homes are established on shifting sand, and therefore, are eroded by the floods of life.
We were recently on vacation in Chattanooga, Tennessee. That is where we took the above picture with the building built upon the rocks. I spent a great deal of time just taking in the interesting view that it presented. There is something so reassuring about having a solid, rock-hard foundation. It gives us security, stability and peace of mind. We have seen footage on TV of what can happen to a grand home during a mudslide or when a sinkhole forms. The whole thing can slide in (in a matter of seconds), never to be seen again. Tragically, that can be true of our family homes as well.
How on Earth do we build our house upon a rock? What does that even mean? First, we must realize that the Rock is Christ. (I Cor. 10:4) He is the foundation for all things. Families that are established on His teachings and principles, will have enduring strength. There is protection for a home that follows the commands of the Word of God. His principles are timeless and effective. He knows how to bring balance in all situations and nurture health in every relationship. The Bible tells us how to fulfill our roles and where the boundaries should lie.
It is the responsibility of the husband or father to lead his home and point it toward Godly principles. This is God’s design and continues to be a time-honored ideal. But if the home lacks a father, or if the father is unspiritual, it is the duty of the wife or mother to build the house upon Godly principles.
No matter how much we love our mate, our children, or our parents, there will always be storms in our relationships. No relationship is immune to times of stress. Sickness, unemployment, rebellious children… the list of possible stressors is endless. But if we want to not only endure, but thrive in the face of hardship, we must do so firmly planted on the Truth contained within the Word of God.
Are you struggling to hold your home together? Or perhaps, is your spiritual house in shambles? Are you dissatisfied with your prayer life, Bible study or church family? No matter the situation, let the Word of God- the person of Christ- be your foundation. Let Him be the umpire that calls the shots. Defer to His wisdom and direction. He will establish and maintain you. He will protect you in the day of disaster and keep you and your family from calamity.
Dear Lord, I desire to lean upon Your foundation in every area of my life. Show me the places that I have left my spiritual home in peril. Show me any areas or decisions that are not firmly established in Your ways. Help me to realign my family to be in keeping with Your standards. O, Jesus, I need you to be my Rock! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Amen to that, Sherri. It is true that no matter what kind of storms we endure, we know that the Rock, Jesus is the best foundation to weather these storm.