Rev. Johnson V.
20th March 2011

When our Lord Jesus walked this earth, He taught and instructed the people using a technique of telling parables. Parables are easy-to-comprehend stories or comparisons that illustrate a lesson. The parables that our Lord Jesus taught are packed with infinite wisdom, compassion and love – powerful enough to change lives. In this, the first study of our Lord’s parables, we look at Mathew 7:24-27.

Our Lord likens someone who hears His Words and puts it into practice, to a wise man who built his house on rock, while someone who hears but does not put it into practice, to a foolish man who built his house on sand.  Firstly, we are called to be hearers of the Word of God. We could be very active in Church, but yet we live in failure because we don’t hear and we don’t do as God wants us to. Sometimes we let prejudice, pride and fear to keep us from the blessings that God has in store for us. For when God speaks and His Word is buried deep within us, our hearts will be aflame with a deep faith that will carry us through. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). 

• There is a blessing in hearing God’s voice. When He speaks, we are blessed.
• Hearing God’s voice places a demand on our lives – to change ourselves, to mature, to grow, to climb higher. God’s promises are given to us when we grow up. It is easier to fast and pray, than it is to change ourselves.
• 2 Peter 1:3 – everything that we require is found in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is also true when He speaks to us.

We are also called to be ‘do-ers’ of the will of the Father. 1 Samuel 15:22 says ‘to obey is better than sacrifice’. God hates disobedience and likens it to witchcraft. Delayed obedience and insincere obedience are all disobedience.

And now on to the wise and foolish men, both were builders. They both built houses. It is not only what or how we build that matters, but also where we build. Wise men set everything on the Rock of Ages. Just because we are engaged in doing something, in activity, we need not necessarily be successful. Success is dependent on the results we produce from the activity we engage in, measured against the purpose it was meant to fulfill.

Wind, water and floods rose against both houses. The wise man’s house, though it was built on rock, was not exempt to nature’s fury. Disaster fell equally on both. 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us that even good, Godly people, will suffer persecution. But he who built his house on the rock, survived the storm. It torn down the house of the foolish man, but it could not damage the house of the wise man. It all depends on where you build your house.

Base everything on a relationship with God, and you will survive every storm that comes your way.