Devotion
The Foundation That Holds
"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." - Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus tells a simple story that cuts to the heart of authentic faith. Two men, both builders, both ambitious, both seemingly successful—yet with vastly different outcomes when the storms arrived.
The wise builder chose his location carefully. Rock was harder to dig, more difficult to work with, and certainly took longer to prepare. But when the foundation was set, it was unshakeable. The foolish builder chose convenience over wisdom. Sand was easy to work with, quick to build upon, and probably looked just as impressive from the outside.
Until the storm came.
Notice that Jesus doesn't say "if" the storm comes, but "when." The rain will fall. The streams will rise. The winds will blow and beat against every house we build. This isn't a matter of if we'll face trials, difficulties, loss, or seasons of testing—it's a matter of when.
The storm didn't discriminate. It hit both houses with equal fury. Both builders faced the same wind, the same rain, the same rising waters. The difference wasn't in the storm's intensity but in what lay beneath the surface—the foundation.
The contrast Jesus draws isn't between those who hear His words and those who don't. Both builders in the parable represent people who have heard Jesus' teaching. The crucial difference lies in what they do with what they've heard.
One hears and puts into practice. The other hears but doesn't act.
How often do we sit in church services, read devotionals, listen to Christian podcasts, or discuss theology with friends, only to leave unchanged? We can accumulate Biblical knowledge like tools in a shed, but unless we use them to build something substantial in our lives, they remain merely intellectual possessions.
What does it mean to build on the rock? It means taking Jesus' words from the realm of good ideas into the reality of daily decisions. It means:
- Choosing forgiveness when we'd rather nurse our hurt
- Serving others when we'd prefer to be served
- Trusting God's provision when anxiety whispers of scarcity
- Loving our enemies when our nature cries for revenge
Building on the rock is often inconvenient, costly, and countercultural. It requires us to dig deep, past the easy answers and comfortable compromises, down to the bedrock of Christ's character and commands.
The foolish builder's house didn't just fall—it fell "with a great crash." There's something particularly tragic about a life that looks successful on the surface but collapses when tested. Perhaps you've witnessed this: someone who seemed to have it all together, whose faith appeared strong, but when crisis hit, everything crumbled.
This isn't God's desire for any of us. The warning comes wrapped in mercy, given while there's still time to examine our foundations and make necessary changes.
Lord Jesus, help me to be not just a hearer of Your Word, but a doer. Show me where I've been building on shifting sand instead of solid rock. Give me the courage to dig deep, even when it's difficult, and the wisdom to build my life on the foundation of Your truth lived out in love. When the storms of life come, may I stand firm because my foundation is in You. Amen.
Blessings!
Will Wallace
Principal