Today’s article is based on a little story that Jesus told, it could be called a parable, but it was basically just an illustration.

Matthew 7: 24-27 (NKJV)

(A) 24 “Therefore, whoever hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the torrents came, and the winds blew and beat that earth, house, and it did not collapse, because it was founded on rock.

26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice will be like a fool who built his house on sand: 27 and the rain descended, the rivers came, the winds blew and beat that house; and fell. And great was his fall. “If this is the first time you read this verse of Scripture, it can be terrifying to contemplate the result of a person who does not build his life on the sayings of Jesus.

What is scarier is that people sit in churches all over the world, week after week, not realizing that Jesus is speaking to them. The most common understanding of this scripture is that when a person becomes a Christian, they have begun to build their life on the rock and the sayings of Jesus. But this is not correct.

If you want to prove this to be true in someone else’s life, just ask someone for money the next time you need it. Jesus says:

Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)

42Give to the one who asks you; and whoever wants to borrow, don’t turn your back on him. If the person you ask is a Christian and will not give or let you borrow, they are not obeying Jesus’ command to do so.

Can you imagine a world in which people did not preach Jesus to others but actually lived like Jesus in the world? Can you imagine a world in which Christians did not fight a war to liberate a country, but actually prayed so much that people removed the country’s leader from leadership?

What would the world be like if you were hungry and the first person you approached gave you money or bought you some food?

Matthew 25: 32-46 (New King James Version) 32 All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from goats. 33And he will put the sheep on his right, and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand: Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 because I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me. I drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in jail and you came to me.

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and pick you up, or naked and clothe you? 39 Or when did we see you sick or in jail and went to see you? 40And the King answering, will say to them: Truly I tell you that as soon as you did it to one of these my least brothers, you did it to me.

41 Then he will also say to those on the left: Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 because I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and they did not welcome me, naked and they did not clothe me, sick and in prison and they did not visit me. ‘

44 Then they too will answer him,[a] saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and we did not serve you?” 45Then he will answer them saying: Truly I tell you, as soon as you did not do it to one of these little ones, you did not do it to me. 46These will go to eternal punishment, and the righteous to eternal life. Are we acting like the righteous in this parable? When we see the hungry, do we feed them? When we see someone who needs a drink, we buy it. Do we pass the stranger on the street and ignore him when he needs a place to live? Do we visit people we know in jail? Do we heal the sick by laying our hands on them?

I ask you reader, do you do these things?

Many people assume that Jesus is not talking about them when he tells this story, and yet if he does the works of the goats, he will not see the kingdom of heaven.

Let me tell you a story of mine.

About ten years ago I was walking through the Queen Street shopping center in Brisbane. I had five dollars and an older man who looked like a homeless drunk came up to me. I thought he was going to ask for money and I already had my answer ready for him since he only had a five dollar bill and no change and needed something for milk and bread.

He asked me, “Do you have money?”

I said no”

He had lied. I knew he was lying and he was sorry, but it seemed too complicated to go to a store and change the money just for him and, furthermore, I thought he was only going to spend it on more alcohol.

He turned away from me and continued walking through the mall. As I continued walking, Jesus said, “What you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me” as a thought in my head.

Feeling strongly convinced, I turned and ran after the man. I had circled a phone booth about fifteen feet away and when I got there I was surprised that it had disappeared into thin air! There was just nowhere he could have gone!

I was saddened by this and when I turned to continue on my way I asked the Lord what I had done wrong.

He said, “Besides lying, you judged that man. You have to learn not to judge before he can use you more.”

I was strongly convinced and it wasn’t until later that I realized that the old man had been an angel sent to test me.

Are you building your house on the sand? Is every person you see in need being touched by you? Are you talking to talk and not walking down the road?

The worst that can happen is that a person finds out that we are Christians and then sees that we do not behave as such. That must really disappoint Jesus.

Matthew 13:22 (NKJV)

22And the one who was sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it remains fruitless. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus shares a parable about a sower. In this verse he describes the seed that fell on the ground where the thorns drowned the word. Many times when we do not obey the teachings of Jesus it is because the concerns of this world and our desire to have the things this world has to offer get in the way.

Jesus says that if we live in the world with all its pleasures and do not refuse to be like Him, then we will be fruitless. And we all know what happens to a tree on a farm that does not bear fruit for many seasons. Very soon, the farmer will pluck it up and put another one there to bear fruit.

James speaks of the world like this:

James 4: 4 (NKJ V)

4 Adulterers and[a] adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James says that we are committing spiritual adultery if we love the world and the things in it. It says very clearly that friendship with the world is making us enemies of God. James is writing to Christians here and giving them a stern warning.

Living in the world is building your house on sand. Loving the things of this world more than loving the teachings of Jesus is dangerous. Denying someone you know you need is putting yourself in a dangerous position when it comes to judgment day.

Do you want to build your house on the rock?

Final prayer:

Lord God, lead me to a new understanding. Do not allow me to be a person who loves the concerns of this world and who loves the world, but Father, let me be a person who loves you and everything that your Son Jesus taught. Father, today I give you all my heart and I put my life in your hands, take me to places in your love where I will be refreshed. Do not judge me Father, rather lead me slowly and safely to your green pastures where I can live and obey the teachings of your Son and where I can inherit your kingdom. In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.