Build on Rock
(based on Matthew 7:24-27)
During this season of Lent, I’ve been using Christ’s quintessential sermon he gave us about living in today’s world - the Sermon on the Mount. Today, Jesus gives us a story of two builders, not two dreamers who talk about someday building their dream home. Jesus gives us a story about two builders, not two philosophers, who go on and on about the value of a place we can call home. Jesus gives us a story about two builders, not architects who can draw a nice home on paper. In giving us a story about builders, Jesus is talking about doing, about acting. It’s important that we recognize this. Both people in Jesus’ parallel stories here build. They make something; in this case, houses. Jesus is not talking about theology or creeds or doctrine here, but instead, he’s talking about practice, living out your beliefs.
Another thing the two builders in Jesus’ story have in common—besides being practical people of action—is that their homes are both tested by the forces of nature. The quality of both buildings will be measured by their ability to withstand the assaults of storms, high winds and water. These two builders are building in a real world where a storm can take a house down in a matter of seconds. And this isn’t something that we have to have much imagination about. We’ve seen and witnessed it. Storms come and wipe out homes.
But what’s the difference between the builders? The first is “wise,” and the second is “foolish,” Jesus says. That’s how Jesus contrasts the two builders. What makes the first builder wise? He builds his house on rock, while the foolish builder builds his house on sand. That’s the difference—rock and sand. Rock is hard and solid; sand is soft and shifting. Foolish builders expect their house to stand on shifting sand. The wisdom of both builders is measured by their building’s durability in a storm. One lasts, the other fails.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Scientists travel to the town of Pisa every year to measure the building’s slow descent. They report that the 179 foot tower, which was built in 1173, moves about one-twentieth of an inch every year, and is now over 17 feet out of plumb. Recent renovations may have saved the nearly 850 year old tower and prevent it from collapsing. Quite significantly, the word “pisa” is the Greek word for marshy land, which gives some clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed. Also, another issue is the fact that the builders only provided a ten foot deep foundation. The reason the Leaning Tower of Pisa is Leaning is because it is built on a faulty foundation.
We need to be careful how we interpret Jesus’ story of the two builders. This is not a story comparing those who follow Jesus and those who do not. As Jesus spells out the meaning of his story, he makes it clear that both builders represent people who “hear these words of mine.” It’s not a matter of one hearing Jesus teach and the other missing it. Both listen to Christ’s teaching. Today we might say that both builders, the wise and the foolish, represent people who read the words in their Bibles. Both listen to sermons, and both may participate in Bible study. They know what Jesus has taught. Even more, they may understand his teaching.
So, what’s the difference between these two listeners to Jesus’ teaching? The wise one listens to Jesus teach, understands his teaching, and puts it into practice. As Jesus says it, this one “hears these words of mine and does them.” The foolish one, in contrast, hears Jesus teach, grasps his teaching, but never does what Jesus says. In other words, this listener to Jesus’s teaching “hears these words of mine and does not do them.”
So, the story of the two builders is really a story about what Jesus expects from those who listen to him teach and preach. He wants more than showing up to hear him. He wants more than praise for his valuable insights. He wants more than an impressive theological library or a list of truths and values to which we subscribe. He wants a life based on his teachings. He wants us to do what he has told us to do. He wants us to do it even when it’s difficult, particularly because the storms will rage. It’s not a matter of if the storms. No, the storms are coming and they’ll come for everyone. But, the question in the end not be about the storm, or even about the house, the question will be about the builder. Was the builder wise or foolish. Did the builder listen and do, or did the builder listen and decide to do their own thing?
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is not so much an ideology or a philosophy as it is a blueprint for how to build a Christ-like life. His practical teachings show us how to navigate our relationships in Christ-like ways. The sermon is meant to show itself in how we live day-in and day-out, when life is easy, but also when life is hard. It’s not just about what we believe, but how we actually live those beliefs out day after day. It’s not enough to simply hear them, know them, even repeat them to others. It’s important to live them out.
In the ancient Greek world, there was an ascending staircase of maturity. It went from knowledge to understanding to wisdom. Knowledge was learning certain truths. Understanding was grasping those truths so that you could actually articulate them. Wisdom, though, was putting those truths into practice, doing them. Jesus is saying here that wisdom is putting his teachings into practice.
So imagine you get really sick, I mean, sick to where your life is at stake. Your physician prescribes a treatment that includes a protocol of specific meds, surgery and diet. You respect your doctor. He or she is a respected authority on treating your illness. You may ask for a second opinion, but wisdom would dictate that you follow his or her prescription. You’ll take those pills, have that surgery and follow that diet, just as he or she says. It would be foolish to ignore your doctor and likely just as foolish to follow your own opinion.
It’s like that with Jesus’ teachings. They are meant to be done. He wants to see us praying and forgiving, loving our enemies and helping the poor. He wants us to make peace and show mercy. He expects us to be the salt the earth and brighten dark places.
The only thing different between Christ’s teaching then and now is that we listen to the words of Jesus in the shadow of his cross. That cross of love and sacrifice has become for us a motivation to build our lives on what Jesus has taught. We practice what he teaches not out of fear of judgment or strict obedience, but out of love and gratitude. As we watch him weather the storm of his Passion, we see him practicing what he taught—humility, reconciliation, forgiveness, prayer. He withstood his storm with amazing grace and strength, and he did that for us.
His love constrains us to be not just good listeners to his words but dynamic listeners who build on rock, putting his words to work and trusting in God’s almighty grace. Amen.
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