In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus teaches about the importance of building one’s life on a firm foundation. He contrasts the wise builder who builds his house on rock with the foolish builder who builds his house on sand. Let’s take a closer look at what this passage teaches us about wisdom and folly in our own lives.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
In verses 24-27, Jesus tells a parable about two builders; one wise, one foolish. The wise builder digs deep and lays a solid foundation for his house that can withstand any storm or flood that comes its way. The foolish builder, however, builds his house on shallow ground without laying any foundation at all. When the rains come and the floods rise, it is only natural that the foolish builder’s house will be destroyed while the wise builder’s house stands firm.
The Meaning Behind Jesus’ Teaching
It is clear from this passage that Jesus is teaching us to build our lives on an unshakable foundation. That foundation is Him—the living Word of God—and His teachings must be rooted deeply within us if we are to survive life’s storms and floods. We cannot build our lives upon worldly things like wealth or beauty because these things are fleeting and cannot provide us with true stability when life gets hard. Only by putting our trust in God can we truly have an unshakeable foundation for our lives that can stand up to anything life throws at us.
Wisdom vs Folly in Our Lives
Once we understand this lesson from Jesus, we must ask ourselves how it applies to our own lives today? Are there areas where we are relying too heavily on worldly things rather than trusting in God? Do we seek wisdom from God’s word, or do we make decisions based solely on what seems right in our own eyes? Are we taking time to build a strong spiritual foundation through prayer and Bible study? These questions will help guide us toward making wiser choices as followers of Christ so that we may live out His teachings more fully in our daily lives.
Ultimately, as Christians, it is important for us to remember that building our lives upon God’s word alone is essential if we are to weather whatever storms come our way. By being rooted deeply into Him and His teachings, no matter what situation arises, we can remain firmly standing knowing He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). This serves as a reminder for all believers that trusting in Him always leads to greater wisdom and security than trusting purely in worldly things ever could.
I need this reminder about relying too heavily on worldly things rather than trusting in God – constantly! Thank you for this timely message.
A good reminder. Thank you, Holly.
Ive lived with and without God’s presence and direction in my life- true freedom is only in Christ. Thanks Holly!