A Tale of Two Builders
Opening video: Lego Parable – Wise Man and the Foolish Man
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to eventually fall w/o assistance. Scientist travel to the town of Pisa every year to measure the buildings slow decent. They report that the 179 foot tower, which was built in 1173, moves about one-twentieth of an inch every year, and is now over 17 feet out of plumb. Recent renovations may have saved the 845 year old tower and prevented it from collapsing. Quite significantly, the word pisa means “marshy land”, which gives some clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed. Also, another issue is the fact that it’s foundation is only 10 ft. deep! The reason the Leaning Tower of Pisa is leaning is because it was built on a faulty foundation.
Matthew 7:24-29 (ESV)
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 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. 27 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.” 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Luke 6:43-49 (ESV)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Observations
- 2 builders
- 2 houses
- 2 foundations
- 2 outcomes
The Big Idea: The foundation on which we build our lives is of ultimate significance.
Outline
Consider the comparisons
- 2 builders
- Both heard the words of Jesus
- One does them (24)
- One does not do them (26)
Consider the contrasts
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- One wise and one foolish
- One built on rock the other on sand
- Doing vs. Hearing
Consider the consequences
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- Both experiences the storms of life
- One did not fall and the other fell profoundly
- Rock builders believe that Jesus alone has the power to save them.
- Rock builders hear His Words and they follow in radical obedience, they conform their lives to His Word/Him. They pay any price, walk any path and do anything the Lord tells them to do.
- The life built on the rock realizes that the Lord deserves our best. They serve, they sacrifice, they do anything to love and honor the Lord.
John 14:15 (ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 14:21 (ESV)
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Thoughts
There are many who profess loyalty and respect (even love) for the Master Builder, yet they go right on building their way.
Each house looks secure in good weather. Only storms reveal the quality of the foundation.
No house is exempt from the storms of life. (Matt. 5:45)
It’s no wonder Jesus sent His disciples into storms!
Storms are where we find His Word to be a Rock and Christ Jesus to be a firm foundation!
This parable reminds us that wisdom puts His Word into practice! Jesus says there are only two choices obedience or disobedience.
Don’t be a passive readers! Live what you believe.
Let’s not forget that Jesus grow up w/ a Master Carpenter.
How important are blueprints to the plans for a house – does how well they are followed determine their structural integrity?
God’s Word is our Divine Blueprints.
Scripture
John 8:30-32 (ESV)
As he was saying these things, many believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 15:7-12 (ESV)
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
James 1:22-26 (ESV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. Luke 11:27-28
The principles of this world will not see us through the storms of life.
So how do we know that we are building our house on the Rock?
1 John 2:3-6 (ESV)
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 Corinthians 3:7-15 (ESV)
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
On what foundation are you building your house? On Christ and His Word – The Rock or human philosophy and reasoning, worldly paradigms and principles – the sand. This is the evidence of whether we know Him or not and by consequence where we will spend eternity.
1 John 5:12 (ESV)
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Extra
James 2:14-20 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
When do we need a solid house the most? Isn’t it when the winds begin to blow and the storms come? When the storm begins, it is too late to build the house. Or how tragic: to build and then experience the collapse of our lives when the storms come!
Storms can come anytime, anywhere. They can come today: through accident, through some bad news, through some tragedy—whatever. The day is coming when it will be too late to build.