The Wise Man

Matthew  7 includes a story I often sang about as a kid:

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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Jesus had a LOT to say, and lots of people listened.  In fact, lots of people listen today, to the word being preached, to what others are saying, and to their own thoughts as they assimilate what they hear.  But Jesus says hearing his words is not enough.

We must put them into practice.

If we do, our foundation will not fall, our house will not crumble.

If we don’t, our foundation will give way, and our house will crash.

The people were amazed at the authority with which Jesus spoke. 

We should be amazed at His authority as well, his sovereign power over our lives, and the promises he makes, IF we hear and obey his words.

This passage doesn’t say the rains won’t come.  In fact, it says the rains will fall.  But the difference is in the result after the rain falls.

I love this story, and I used to love the song, “The wise man built his house upon the sand…and the rain came a tumbling down…”

I want my house to stand firm, don’t you?