building a solid foundation
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” – Matthew 7:26
There were two types of people in Jesus’ day. Some people heard the words spoken by Jesus and were amazed at His wisdom and understanding, but they did nothing about what they heard. Others heard those words and acted on them. Jesus said that those who hear the words but fail to act on them are foolish and compared them to building a house on sand. Indeed, how foolish it would be to build a house on sand.
A person who follows the teachings of Jesus is a person who is sure to face the storms of life.
Therefore, whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. It rained, and the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; Yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).
You never know how well built your home is until it’s tested by the elements. Heavy rain reveals the quality of your roof. Wind and cold determine how well your home is insulated. Heat and sunlight determine the quality of your paint and siding. All of these elements determine whether a solid foundation has been laid to make your home a safe and sustainable place to live.
Many of us find that we have only paid lip service to God’s commandments. We are facing the reality that our foundation is not strong enough to withstand the storms of life. How do we respond when trials come? Do we worry and worry? Do we take life into our own hands? Do we react inappropriately when we don’t get what we want? The Lord uses these times to help us recognize whether our foundation is sand or rock. Ask the Lord today if you have built on His rock. If so, you can take comfort in knowing that you can weather any storm that comes your way.
