‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’
BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: Why would anyone build a house on sand?
10 comments:
Maybe because we live in such a instant gratification world that we don't have the patience and there are so many worldly things pulling our attention away from what is really important. MJB
Why would they? MJB
I know what you are going to tell us...we all build our house on sand! Sounds ridiculous!!! It is a great struggle to keep looking for those sturdy 2 x 4/s of God's strength when there is such "inviting sand" waiting for us to "dig our fingers into"! We must pray for the Holy Spirit's precious guidance each day!
Every time we put our trust in ourselves, our job, our reputations, who we are and what we do, we build on sand. We are God's children, when we can fully put our trust in God then we are building on a rock, and we will be ready to weather the storms.
Bring on the cement trucks...not the raw sand!
Laymen...you stated exactly what I am betting Pastor Jerry's comments will be!
It seems like others are able to interpret these parables and come up with some profound reasoning. I've read through the Bible four times or more, and I still often wonder about what God is doing, and why. I know I'm not to doubt His Word, just accept it, but just the fact that I don't understand everything scares me, that I will someday suffer the wrath of God. If I hear Him and don't understand, which He dislikes, and continue to build on the sand, I suppose that means I am the foolish man.
I will continue to follow this blog through Easter, but it is probably best if I just sit back and listen to what others have to say, and learn.
testing
Sparrow, we're all beginners in understanding "what God is up to"!!! There is definitely JOY in the mystery that we'll never completely know until we are with Him in heaven! Please keep adding your thoughts...we all grow by sharing "ourselves"!!! There are no winners or losers or "the head of the class!"
Why build on sand....well, there's a lot of sand to build on, and a lot of it has a nice view...a view of fame, a view of power, a view of excitement, a view of acclaim from others.
The view of humility, the view of kindness, the view of repentance, the view of dependence on one greater than ourselves....not quite as scenic. But boy is it a beautiful view when the rain falls and the floods come.
In fancy theological terms, this is the difference between what Martin Luther called the theology of Glory and the theology of the cross. Glory is fragile and fades.....the cross is powerful and eternal.
Just a word to sparrow and everyone....if understanding was the key to God's heart, our forgiveness, and heaven....then none of us would have any hope. On the contrary, because we hear God's promise of grace and mercy, and his promise to abide with us in this very confusing world that we seek to understand with boldness and courage. Being right...that is being right with God...is not a matter of us being correct (right), it is a matter of God's power to right every one of our wrongs.
Another way to put it is, it isn't a matter of what we know on which we will be judged, it is a matter of who knows us. I rest my hopes in the fact that God has called me his own in the waters of Baptism, marked me with a cross that speaks his forgiveness, and says, "I have called you by name. You are mine."
Remember what Jesus said about you and me...that we are of far greater worth than the sparrows, and God watches over them.
Pastor Jerry, your response to all of us about the "sand the the solid ground" is so very, very meaningful! I'm so glad that Sparrow shared his/her feelings with us!
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