Thursday 02 December 2010

Background

You can imagine Jesus starting off the parable (verses 24-27)along the lines of "Have you heard the one about the man who builda house on ... ?", much to the laughter and amusement of hisaudience. It could easily have been something within theirexperience. 

The story itself is not a far-fetched illustration. There wouldhave been many places in Israel that would, at first appearances,look like an idyllic place to construct a house - sandy gullies ordried up river beds with a pleasant outlook and easy to digfoundations. Yet with rainfall they would soon become a ragingtorrent. 

It is possible, too, that both builders built on water courses, yetonly one bothered to dig down to solid rock. The other satisfiedhimself with sand and thought that this would be enough. But whenthe water came, the foundations needed the rocks forstability. 

This reading comes at the end of the Sermon in the Mount - a blockof Jesus' teaching - and this final section is full of warnings ofjudgement for those who do not put Jesus' teaching intopractice. 

What differentiates the two builders is not what they hear, butwhat they do or how they act on the words (verse 24, 26). Jesus'words and teaching are not there to be ignored or toyed with - theyare there to be heeded. But more than that, Jesus' words are onlytruly heard when they are put into action, or in terms of theparable until the house is built on the rock. The works need toaffect life and behaviour. 

To Ponder

Think of a time or event in your life that shookyour foundations, but you remained strong. What happened?

What are the aspects of your faith anddiscipleship that have the weakest foundations? How can youstrengthen them?

The parable is about two builders: one who actedon what they had heard, and another who didn't. What about someonewho hears things but takes no action? Are there any parts of yourlife where that is true? What might God be saying to you aboutthis?