Daily Devotional for Sunday, January 18

Jesus Taught About Two Buildings

“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was funded upon a rock,” (Luke 6:47, 48).

In 2007 ground was broken for the largest building program ever in the long history of White Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. It was an exciting time with many building committee meetings, plan revisions and decisions to be made. Most of the discussion concerning the project focused on things like bricks and baptisteries, steeples and furniture, lights and windows. However, one of the most memorable conversations for me concerning the project came during a discussion of the foundation work. A wise man in our church with much construction experience observed, “Save money where possible, but do not cut any corners with the foundation. If we build it too strong, they will never know.” The obvious conclusion of course was, if the foundation is weak, everyone will eventually know, for the building will fail under the strain of the storm. This man was a wise builder.  

Jesus’ teaching was simple, and yet, so profound. The wise builder knows that the unseen part of the house is the most important of all. The wise builder spares no effort or expense to make the foundation sure (1 Corinthians 3:10). The Lord Identifies this sure foundation as the hearing and heeding of His sayings. As the Word of God is worked in and walked out, the storms of life cannot compromise the structure of the believer’s life, though it beat upon him severely, for the foundation is sure.

The house built by the unwise builder may possess beauty for the eye but provides no security for the soul. As soon as the storm floods rise, the house falls for lack of a sure foundation.

FINAL THOUGHT

Fortify the foundation of your life today. Hear and heed the Word of God.

John Nations