A strong foundation

Summer is now in full swing, and with it comes a familiar sight. There are several people in my area putting up buildings on their farms or ranches. One of the things that amazes me is that it always seems so long from groundbreaking until the actual walls start going up, but then the whole thing goes up fast.

The foundation work takes a long time because if you don’t do it right, you will regret it down the road. Jesus recognized this and used it as a parable to teach us about following Him.

In Matthew 7, Jesus said,

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

This is a familiar parable. Most often we speak about it regarding someone who is grounded in Christ, a Christ follower, compared to someone who is not, an unbeliever.

The principles of this parable can be used this way, but I think there is a plainer meaning that we often skip over. Good study of the Bible means that we must start with what it meant to the original audience.

The original hearers of this teaching were Jews, God followers. Jesus wasn’t challenging those who refuse to acknowledge God to come to faith. He was challenging those who claimed to be God’s people to do something with their belief.

The most direct application of this text is a challenge to us who claim to follow Jesus. Are we merely hearers of the Word or also doers. James 1:11 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” 

We know as Christ followers that we are called to put into practice the things we learn. Jesus is saying that failure to apply His words to your life makes you a fool. Simply put, your lack of wisdom and intelligence is evident if you don’t apply the word.

I think we take this a step further. Jesus says that failure to apply the word will cause your foundations to be faulty. Your life will become unsteady, unfounded and begin to crumble.

I think this leaves us with a possible litmus test for the health of our spiritual lives.

If some area of your life seems to be crumbling, seems to be falling apart no matter how hard you try, perhaps there is a foundation issue that needs to be addressed.

I am not talking about bad things happening. Jesus says the storm is coming against both houses. The issue is what happens inside you when the storm does come?

Is there a steadiness? Is there a hope that defies circumstances or does any trouble seem to erode some of who you are?