What Type of Builders Are We?
by Yulia Kariuki
The strength of the building is determined by its foundations. If the foundation is strong and solid, the building can withstand the rage of weather and the force from outside. If the foundation is not strong, we might witness the collapse of the building under severe weather conditions. What Jesus has told us in this passage of Matthew 7 is quite profound, and yet simple to understand. He tells us that, if hear His words and put them into practice, we are building our house on the rock.
And that literally means to do what He had told us in the Scripture, despite how hard it can be. If He told us to forgive, we are to practise the forgiveness every time when we feel offended. If He told us to bless those who curse us, we are follow His words, no matter how we feel.
On the other hand, when we just hear His words and never put them into practice, we are actually building our house on sand. “But why is it?” you may ask. Why is it not enough just to know the truth in our hearts but necessary to practise it to have a solid life in Christ? I believe that our behaviour either springs forth from our own ideas about life, or from the word of God. Our ideas may not be bad, but they are not necessarily rooted in God’s truth and that’s why they have no power or strength to withstand ‘the rain, the streams and the wind’ that Jesus was talking about.
That’s why, if we see that in some areas of our life our foundation is constantly sinking like sand, it is time to examine the foundation on which that area of life is built on. If we struggle with relationships, money, the temptation to judge others, or something completely different, now is the time to check the foundations on which we have built our ‘house’. Jesus never just advised us to do what He had said, but He told us to put His words into practice, if we are to have solid foundations in life.
May I encourage you today to ask the Lord to show you those foundations you are building your ‘house’ upon. And when you realise they are not rooted in God’s word, may He give you strength to let go of your own ideas and put into practice what He says in the Scripture.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Word, that it is a strong and solid foundation for my life. Will You help me to see where I have built my ‘house’ on sand, and will You help me to exchange it with Your truth, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Yulia Kariuki was born in Russia and studied translation and interpretation as her profession. She joined Ellel Ministries in 2009, after graduating from university. The same year she met her husband and Bernard and Yulia served on team for many years both in Scotland and at Ellel Grange.
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