CHRISTIANS ARE ABNORMAL IN HOW THEY BUILD 7 12
On May 4th, just 2 months ago, the Lambro family woke to find the backyard of their Windermere home gone. Over night a sinkhole had formed that grew to more than 100 x 50 feet and swallowed a hammock and 4 trees.
Last month, on June 21st, Susan Minutillo left her house to run a few errands. When the 79 yo lady returned a ½ hour later, she found emergency vehicles at her home and soon discovered that 70% of her home had been swallowed by a sink hole during the brief time she was gone.
Just last week, on July 6th, a 6-year-old girl in Chiefland, FL felt the ground in her backyard get soft beneath her. Before she knew it, she had fallen to the bottom of a 15 foot sinkhole. She was able to grab some roots and pull herself out, but remained shocked for some time.
Let’s face it; the ground beneath us is unsteady and uncertain. We live in a state that is known for its sinkholes. Many of the lakes and ponds in our state were formed by sinkholes. Without bedrock on which to build, we never know how long our homes and buildings will last.
What is true of Florida buildings is also true of peoples’ lives. We must be certain, we must be sure about what we build our lives on. We must be sure that the values we hold dear and the things that we value will stand the test of time. I believe that is the point Jesus makes in Matthew chapter 7 when He warns us to build on the solid ground.
- Matthew 7:13-29
In this passage, Jesus talks about 2 different gates and 2 paths, 2 trees with 2 different fruit, and 2 houses built on 2 very different foundations. To some extent, He uses these comparisons to discuss the same thing. They are pictures of what true salvation and true Christians look like, as opposed to those who have either been deceived or have deceived themselves.
This morning we want to look primarily at the builders. You know, in the last 6 verses, we see builders who have a great deal in common.
I. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE BUILDERS
1. Both hear His words. – In this illustration, Jesus tells us about two people who both hear His words. He doesn’t use this opportunity to discuss people in Christian countries and those who are not. He is talking about people who have the same opportunities and have heard the same Gospel. They both hear His words. That would include all of you here today, a large portion of the people in this country, and many people around the world. They all have that in common. They have heard His words.
2. Both build houses – They have a second similarity. Both of the people Jesus is describing build houses. Both of these people build lives, which is what Jesus is talking about when He discusses the houses.
Both men hear His word and they both build houses. They have another similarity as well; both people build in the same general area.
3. They both build in the same general area – We know they build in the same general area because a storm, maybe the same storm, hits them both. They probably live in the same town. They attend the same church together. Their children play ball together. They shop at the same grocery store, eat at the same restaurants, and are stuck in traffic on the same roads.
4. They both have storms come in their lives – Everyone has storms in their lives. …
5. Another thing they have in common is that they build the same general houses. Jesus is not comparing people who on the outside look very different. He is not, here, comparing those who persecute Christians and those who love them. He is comparing people who both profess to be His followers.
Their houses look very similar on the outside much like wheat and tares look very similar.
These folks have a great deal in common. They both hear His words, they both build houses, they build in the same general area, and they build houses that look very similar from the outside. But, sadly, that is where the similarity ends, because they have one great difference. Their foundations are very different.
II. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BUILDERS
I grew up around construction and building material people. My family, for several generations, was in lumber and building materials.
In 1998 we opened a new hardware store in Lake Mary. I ran it from the time it opened, until I went to seminary. Part of my responsibility was to try to build business and expand our customer base, so for a while I went around and visited a lot of construction sites.
You can learn a great deal about builders, their values and abilities, if you look at what they build before the caulk and paint go on. I was amazed at how poorly; some of the finest looking houses were actually constructed.
Some of those homes had the shoddiest materials in them. Others had good materials, but very poor craftsmanship. Things would be slapped together, jack-legged, and then painted over. I’ve discovered the same thing while working on roofs.
The old saying, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear is very true. If the beginning, if the foundation is not square, if it is not leveled properly, and graded properly, there isn’t much you can do to fix it. It has to start right.
That’s what Jesus is saying here. He says, the building has to begin right, it has to be anchored securely, or it will fall apart. Some folks build on sand and others on rock.
III. SOME POOR FOUNDATIONS PEOPLE USE
There are many things people try to use as foundations to build their houses on.
1. Spouses – Some people build their lives on their spouses. Their entire lives are wrapped up in their spouses. They want to please their spouses and only feel good about themselves when their souses build them up.
Ladies are to honor their husbands. Men are to love their wives, and to provide for them, and take care of them. But, what happens to that person when the spouse has passed, or is unfaithful, or simply leaves. Often, their house and their world collapses.
2. Children – Grow up, go the way of the world, disappoint, get busy with their own families …
3. Professions – The day will come when you are no longer needed there. The day will come when people quit taking your phone calls, etc.
4. Reputations – Someone makes a false accusation, or you make a mistake, or really mess up, like Peter did when he had to rebuked by Paul.
5. Church –
Jesus loves the church, and, as Paul tells us, gave Himself for her. I am grateful for faithful members and diligent servants. I am grateful for teachers and mowers, and tithers, and musicians, and cooks, and builders, etc.
What happens when the pastor leaves, or when you get one in that you don’t really like? What happens when someone in the church says something mean to you, or you find out that a leader in the church isn’t all they claim to be?
6. Good works – Some build their lives around doing good works. Some on saving animals and such. That’s where they get meaning and purpose in life. But, all of this is going to burn up one day. …
When the storm comes, all of these things will fail. Children grow up. We retire from business. Spouses pass, finances reverse, retirement accounts disappear, and lives built on these things collapse.
IV. THE LASTING FOUNDATION
- v24
The house stood when the storm came. Why? Because of it’s foundation.
It is built upon the Word of God. What does a life built on the Word of God look like?
1. It is a life of obedience – v24
> James 1:22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
No one is without sin. That’s why Jesus commands us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
None of us are without sin. All of us are selfish and fleshly from time to time. But that’s not the way a believer wants to be. He wants to be obedient. He wants to please God. That’s why he’s so quick to repent when he does mess up.
2. It is a life of sacrifice –
- Matthew 16:24
There are times you have to give up things if you want to please God. … you want to enjoy a quiet evening at home, but God has laid someone on your mind and on your heart to visit …
There are children to teach, widows to love …
3. It is a life of dependence –
- Luke 6:48
He dug through the formality of religion – He realized that it wasn’t his prayers, or candles, or VBS attendance, or church attendance, or giving, or baptism, or any of those things that were going to save him.
He dug through his good works (Matthew 7:22)
He dug through his good reputation and placed all of his dependence on Jesus Christ.
He saw himself as Jesus described him in the beatitudes …
Until you reach the point where you realize that your salvation is all due to the grace of God, you haven’t dug deeply enough yet.
