Matthew 7:24-29

Everyone is building a house, whether they are wise or foolish.  For example, in Scripture these all built houses:

·        Heb. 11:7: Noah

·        Luke 1:33: Jacob

·        Heb. 3:2,5: Moses

·        Acts 7:10: Pharaoh (Ex. 1:11)

·        Luke 1:27: David

·        Matt. 10:6: Israel

·        Matt. 12:4; 1 Tim. 3:15: God (Israel, the Church)

·        John 14:2; Luke 14:23: God (heaven)

·        Heb. 3:3: the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 16:18)

A house is important.  It provides protection, comfort, and even a measure of significance (2 Tim. 2:20).  What Jesus is not talking about here is our household (our family); and He is not concerned with our physical house in this illustration.  He refers to what we might call our “philosophy of life”.  This is the structure that will protect you from the storms of life and that will provide you a place where you can find soul-comfort.

Note that Jesus indicates that the same storms happen to everyone, both those who are foolish (they do not obey Him) and those who are wise (they do obey Him).  Rain that result in floods are curse issues, things that happen as a result of the entrance of sin into the world in Gen. 3.  These storms might include: illness, natural disasters, natural obstacles (weeds), deterioration (rust), man’s inhumanity (thieves, murderers), broken relationships, death (the last enemy, the greatest storm we face), and judgment (which comes after death).

Another thing for us to consider about these storms is that they serve a very important purpose in our lives.  Since they are aspects of death that is the result of sin, they serve to remind us of our own inadequacies and of our need for God.  When they destroy our house it reveals the soft foundation on which we have built and provide an opportunity, if we will take it, to cry out to God.

Consider the words and wisdom of the preacher in Ecclesiastes.  If we will learn from him, we can see that he has already tried the foundations we are most likely to build on: earthly wisdom (1:12-18), pleasure (2:1-3), great personal accomplishments (2:4-9), and our work (2:17-23).  All these will ultimately give way, if not earlier then surely as we face death.  Only one foundation will do.  It is the one that begins with faith in Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-15) and that leads us to hear His words and obey them.

Will your house, your philosophy of life, protect and comfort you in life’s most violent storms?  The storms will come; will you be ready?