Mensa Otabil - Build Wisely
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We’ve been talking about wisdom this week and the previous week, and we’ve been looking at it from different points of view. Today, we are looking at building, so we talk about the wise Builder. Jesus told the parable of two kinds of Builders: the wise Builder and the foolish Builder. Today we’ll look at the wise Builder, and tomorrow we will look at the foolish Builder.
So, Matthew 7, verses 24 and 25: «Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.»
This parable has to do with how people receive God’s Word, but the concept of a wise Builder and a foolish Builder goes beyond just how we approach God’s Word. It also goes into how we build our lives, build our marriages, and build everything else that we are involved in. The parable focuses on foundations, not building materials. The assumption is that both the wise man and the foolish man are building with the same materials. The difference is the foundation on which they build their buildings.
In life, many times, we can have the same opportunities, the same materials, the same schools, the same education, and yet the outcomes of life can be very different for us. Sometimes, it’s not so much about whether someone has superior materials compared to you, but rather what kind of foundations you have laid.
The wise Builder builds on the rock. That is the first thing we get from this parable: the wise Builder builds on the rock. Now, in the place where Jesus lived, the geography was very sandy because much of the Middle East is very sandy. When people are building, they have to choose whether to build on the sand or on the rock. Sometimes, sand can cake up and seem quite strong. One of the hazards of Jesus’s time, and I think it’s still present in the Middle East, is what they call flash floods. Flash floods occur when the rain comes, and there is a swift movement of rainwater that washes everything in its way. This is going to be the test for what people are building.
The wise person doesn’t just look at the surface of the sand; he digs beyond the surface and digs deeper. The wise person says, «It looks like I can build now, but I need to find a more solid foundation.» A wise man is a digger; they go beyond the surface, they dig deeply, and they spend time in building the foundation for what they will become later on. It works with marriage; it works with everything else in life. It takes time to lay the right foundations.
That’s the first thing: they dig deeper. Secondly, they build enduring foundations. They build values, they build ideas, they build concepts, and they build the disciplines that are enduring. They don’t go for what is popular and what is in vogue at any given time. They build enduring foundations.
Remember, popular does not mean right. They build for long-term success. We live in a world where short-term success is flaunted. You go on people’s Instagram pages, and they’re showing you how things have worked. You go on Facebook, and people try to give you the impression that overnight, things are working for them. There’s so much temptation out there for you to sabotage your life, take shortcuts, and want to impress people with pictures and photos.
Listen to me: life is not about pictures. Pictures can be staged; pictures can be photoshopped. Life is a reality, and if you want to be a wise Builder, take your time, find a solid rock, and ensure that the fundamentals are right. The bases on which you build are right. Make sure that your foundation is strong. Make sure that what you are doing can withstand adversity because trust me, adversity is going to hit whatever you build. It’s a given; nothing stands without problems. Everything will be tested with storms, rain, and winds. But the house that is properly built will stand.
I pray that you will build a solid foundation so that, 10, 20, 30, or 40 years from now, against all the storms of life, you will still be standing. That’s what a wise Builder does.
Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, your Word is my rock and foundation. Help me to dig deep to build against every storm. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»