The Wise And Foolish Builders

Matthew 7:24-27:The Parable of the Wise and foolish builders.

This morning’s parable is the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders

Jesus was wonderful in illustrating truths about God with simple stories.

He takes very simple everyday things to illustrate deeper spiritual meanings.

Being a Christian does not require a fantastically deep intellect but rather simply an openness to hear what God is saying to you.

The famous French mathematician, some say probably one of the most brilliant minds ever, was Blaise Pascal who said of his faith

"Je crois comme une charbonniere". - I believe like a charwoman.

What is the context in which Jesus told the parable?

Jesus has just finished preaching his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

He has been talking to the people of how to get into the Kingdom of God. Inn the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says that

1. Being a Christian is not going to be an easy option. Matt 7:13-14

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

2. People will try to hijack and con you Matt. 7:15-16

15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

You know a con man when you see him.

3. But you will be able to recognise them

16By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.

4. Jesus is interested in attitude

Jesus goes on to say, that it is not a matter of saying the right things but rather doing the right things.

In fact he is more interested in attitude. Let’s let Jesus speak for himself.

21"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. 22Many 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?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

So that is the background to this parable. Let’s look at the parable in more detail

Show Slide 1. The House.

This parable is not taken from an ARCHITECT’S HANDBOOK.

It is not a guide to building houses.

In Jesus parable two men had a dream of building a house

As Jesus’ parables are simple stories with a hidden meaning, what does the house represent?

Story: I gave this talk once at our refugee church in Switzerland.

Before I had even started, one of the Indian refugees there saw the slide and turned to the interpreter and said: He’s going to speak about my life!

A picture is worth a thousand words

The house in this parable represents our lives:

It represents the human heart, the very being of man.

It represents the REAL you

In the book of Proverbs, Prov 23:26 God says to us:

My son, GIVE ME YOUR HEART and let your eyes keep my ways.

In Proverbs 4: 23, we are told

Above all else to GUARD YOUR HEART for it is the well spring of life.

Your heart is one thing that can’t be stolen from you.

You decide HOW you are going to live

Whether or not you are going to live God’s ways or go your own way. It’s your choice.

Show Slide 2. The Foundation

What foundation are you building your house on?

Jesus in verse 24 and 26 tells us about the foundation of the two houses.

Both relate to hearing what Christ has to say.

1. One of the foundations is SAND

The man who built his house on the sand HEARD CHRIST’S WORDS but they did not go down into his HEART.

THEY did not however result in action.

Story: Paul Little once spoke to a student who had all sorts of intellectual questions about Christianity.

After Paul had answered all the student asked him, Paul Little asked him if he would now like to become a Christian:

The student replied “No, because - quite frankly - it would mess up the way I am living!!”

Is that where you stand about following Christ?

Sand can be packed together quite nicely so that it looks like a real foundation.