Have you ever considered building your own house?
Have you daydreamed or planned what your home would be like?
What would be the most important part of the house?
What about from a structural point of view?
--The foundation. Why?Jesus taught in parables. He often used examples or metaphors from everyday life in order to communicate a spiritual point:
- Time would not affect it much.
- It would support the wieght and structure of your house.
Matt 7:24-27
"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."The house in this story is your life!
What are you building your life on? The Rock? (Jesus' teachings) or something else?What are some examples of other foundations people might build their lives on?
What commitments and priorities would you see in the lives of people who's foundations are on these things? (Be specific.)
- Success
- School
- Popularity
- Fame
- Sex
- Fun
- Career
- Relationships
- Materialism
What are the storms in this story? We all experience storms in our lives: bad investments, layoffs, breakups, etc.
Jesus says that these storms are the real test of our lives foundations. Storms like this may completely destroy lives that are not built on the rock!
Example: A young man spends two years and a lot of money restoring a classic car, only to have it totaled in an accident! He is devastated to the point of being sick!
Example: When the stock market crashed in 1929, many people lost their entire life fortunes in one day! They were left with absolutely nothing! Since this was all that many people lived for, some of them went straight to the roof of the building they were in and jumped!
Example: Romeo and Juliet when Romeo believes Juliet is dead, he thinks his life is no longer worth living...
Jesus teaches that building our lives on these types of foundations is foolish because they cannot weather the storms!
If that is true, then why do so many people choose to build their lives on such unstable ground?
- They say to themselves "those things will never happen to me!" But do they? Yes! All the time! Just like the bible says!
- It's like living in California on the fault, there is a false sense of security! They conclude that its worth the risk!
Eccl 1:1 - 2:19
The bible teaches that these types of foundations are wholly unfulfilling! Solomon had it all!Example: Billionaire Howard Hughs was considered to be one of the richest men in the world. He became a recluse in the latter part of his life, and in an interview shortly before his death was asked this question: How much more money do you need to make you happy? He reportedly answered: "Just a little more." When he died, what became of his life and his money? How much did he take with him? He took as much as any of us will take, or as any homeless person that dies on the street!
Re-read Eccl 2:16:
"For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!"Same with the rich or poor, the successful or failures, etc.
That is the one storm we will all have to face someday! Our own death! That will be the true test of our lives' foundation!
Luke 12:13-21
(vs 15) "...a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." ( ... or any other foundation! )Luke 9:25
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?We've all seen the bumper sticker:
"The one who dies with the most toys wins!"The storm of death is coming! So what foundation can we build our lives on to weather this storm? What insurance can we buy?
Matt 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.John 10:10b
... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.Our personal relationship with God is the ONLY solid foundation! Jesus IS the rock! He has come to give us a full and rewarding life!Go back to Matt 7:24-27 -- What constitutes a strong foundation?
He is the ONLY foundation that will stand the storm of death!
Perhaps this is why so many people include religion in their lives, to help make them feel comfortable about facing their own death. But does having religion guarentee a solid foundation?
Matt 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'No! These people have religion, but they are not DOING the will of God -- they are not PRACTICING His teachings!
What do you think would characterize religion that is NOT a solid foundation?
What do you think would characterize the lives of people who ARE building on a solid foundation: a personal relationship with God?
- Not a big part of their lives -- "weekend Christians".
- Not based on Jesus' teachings in the bible.
- Full of men's ideas, traditions, and practices.
Jesus is not saying we can't use money, or have houses, or make friends and relationships, He's saying they can't be our foundation.
- Love God above all else! If a boyfriend says he loves his girlfriend he wouldn't be wishy-washy about her. He wouldn't be just a "weekend boyfriend". Same with God!
- It would be evident in their everyday lives, not just weekends.
- Commitment to studying and practicing Jesus' teachings.
Jesus is also not saying that we won't experience storms in our lives. In fact, He teaches that we definitely will! He's saying that in order to survive all of life's storms, He must be our life's foundation.
As you examine your own life, what foundation are you building on? This is life, and we only get one shot at this! Are you prepared for the storms of life, and the storm of death (which could happen at any time!)? If not, what can we do to make sure we are building a strong foundation? (Matt 7:7-8)
Close with prayer.