The Wise and Foolish Builders
This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak at a women’s retreat. I thought I would share an overview of that study. The theme of the retreat was Rock of Ages. As I started pondering Rock of Ages, I thought foundation which lead me to the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 24 -29 NIV
In A Day with the Master, Dennis Kinlaw states: “The Bible is the record of God’s revelation of himself to humanity. Without it, we have neither religious certainty nor any other security, for if we are not sure about our foundation, we will wobble on everything else.” Salvation is a free gift from God through the sacrifice of Jesus. We don’t have to work for that but we do need to build our lives and the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders gives us instruction on how to do that.
Jesus Christ is our foundation- Isa 28:16, Ephesians 2:20, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter2:6-7
The parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders is the only parable in the Sermon of the Mount – Matthew 5, 6 and 7.
Let’s look what the parable teaches:
Therefore – because of everything that has come before. Matthew 5,6 & 7
Everyone – all peoples for all times. (it applies to us in 2016)
Hears – or exposes themselves to His teachings. Exposes themselves to the truth.
Hears these words and puts them into practice – Hears and does something
House – is our life. Our actions, attitudes, words and choices build our lives.
Foundation is the key in the parable – rock or sand.
Rain, wind, water came to both houses – we are not protected from the storm. We are protected in the storm.
Amazed – the crowds were amazed. It is good to be amazed and awed by Jesus but were they changed or just informed.
The parable teaches if we are informed (hear) and put them into practice (do) we are like the man who built his house on the rock (Jesus). I have been thinking a lot about what is my foundation and what am I building? May I encourage each of us to take some time to read over the Sermon on the Mount and let Jesus speak to us about our foundations and what we are building?
25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
28-29 When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.” Matthew 25 – 29 The Message
I love what you said “we are not protected from the storm, but in the storm”.
Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom.