Everytime I read Matthew 7, I start singing either aloud or in my head, “The wise man built his house upon the rock…” This children’s Sunday school song has a deep message that most children don’t understand, but they love the song because it’s fun. Let’s look at the deeper meaning in Matthew 7:24-29.
“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.”(Matt. 7:24 NIV) Living in Arizona, I gained some perspective on this one day when I opened a cupboard in the lower level of our church. There I saw, behind the wiring box, the bedrock upon which the building sat. I knew that a flash flood, common in the desert, was not going to take that building away. The same can be said of the believer who trusts God and His Word in every part of his life; the storms of life can come along and beat on him but his faith will not be shaken. He will stand firm.
“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 the sand.” (Matt. 7:26 NIV) Our family lived in the San Francisco Bay area when the World Series quake hit in 1989. It was scary for us but even worse for those whose homes were built on fill in San Francisco. The quake shook that sand and those houses fell. If a person goes through life trying to look their best on the outside, like those beautiful, expensive homes that crumbled, without having a firm foundation in the Bible, when troubles and trials come along they will have nothing on which to stand. Their world may crumble to ruins.
The people who heard Jesus teaching were amazed because His teaching was “with authority” not like what they generally heard. His Word is the only firm foundation on which we can depend and stand when times get tough. How about you, will your house stand firm or go smash?
Devoted 