The Foolish Person

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. 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 (Matthew 7:26-27).

Quite often in Scriptural dialogue between God and man, what is said first, what is said last, and what is repeated is of great importance. In these closing words of Jesus, He compares and contrasts the wise person and the foolish person. Because this is a parable, we must define the ‘players’ or the symbols that Jesus used, just as we did in yesterday’s devotion. But that won’t be difficult because the symbols are the same - the house is one’s life, the rain, floods, and winds are the storms of life, to ‘beat against the house’ are the issues, concerns, troubles, etc. that afflict or press against the life.

However, in the contrast to the wise person who builds his life on the ‘rock’ (God’s truth), the foolish person builds his life on the ‘sand’. What is the ‘sand’? Paul said (Colossians 2:6-8), Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. The sand upon which many people build their lives today is made up of philosophy (speculation, opinion, theory, etc.), vain deceit (teachings that are plausible, that appear true or reasonable), human tradition (statements, beliefs, legends, customs, etc.), and elemental spirits (ceremonialism, religious rites, etc.) of the world. None of these are God’s truth. Whereas God’s truth (bedrock) is stable and sure, everything else (sand) is unstable and shifting.

Have you ever stood on the beach just close enough to the water that the waves coming in wash against your feet? It’s fun. It tickles. But part of that ‘tickle’ is the wave washing the sand from around and under your feet as it returns to the sea. Stand there for very long and you will begin to sink into the beach as the waves wash more and more sand away from your feet.

Do you know family members, friends, or acquaintances who have built their lives on philosophies, doctrines, or systems that did not sustain them in times of trials, testing hardships, or heartaches? Has anyone come to you asking, “Why do you seem to be so calm and confident in the midst of all this trouble and turmoil?” It’s a great opportunity to tell them about Jesus, the foundation of your life, your hope in times of trouble, your assurance in times of temptation and trials.

“Thank You Lord, that Jesus and His Word is the sure foundation of my life. I am grateful that in these days of pandemic, economic crisis, political upheaval, and civic and cultural distress, I have perfect peace in the Captain of my salvation. Help me to share His peace with others who are being battered by the storms of life. To His honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor