Foundational Things

Matthew 7:21-29

Good News: God has given us the sure foundation to build our lives upon. The Rock of Christ will not give way to the storms of life.

An elderly woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch. Though he looked weathered and feeble, he had a content smile on his face. “I couldn’t help noticing how happy you look,” she said. “What’s your secret for a happy life?” “Well, I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he said, waving a wrinkled hand through the air, with a smoldering cigarette between his thumb and finger. “I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise.” “That’s amazing!” said the woman. “So, how old are you?” “Thirty six,” he answered.

If you were going to build a healthy body, you would not follow this young man’s example, would you? How about building a healthy marriage, a loyal family, or a faithful church?
Where in our world would you look for a model to build upon?

There are foundations upon which we build the things of life. The strength and virtue of the foundation determines the strength and virtue of the building. You can have the greatest looking piece of architecture above ground for all the world to see, but if beneath the surface the foundation is structurally unsound, then this beautiful building is not going to last.

How about building a meaningful satisfied life, a loyal family, or a faithful church? Where would you look for guidance? Let me give you a hint. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

This text is the final statement of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been teaching his disciples how to live according to God’s will instead of according to the will of the Pharisees, or the will of other worldly models. The teachings of Jesus keep us building upon the rock. They are the foundation for a meaningful and satisfying life. So then, what exactly did Jesus teach? Essentially he taught what we Christians have come to hear as the virtues of discipleship living. He taught Love for God, love for neighbor, love for self. He taught about the virtues of a good marriage. He taught about the necessity for generosity and compassion. He taught forgiveness, acceptance, humility, peace. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught the total package of Christian living. Then, at the end he taught about wisdom. He said that the wise man builds upon the rock. It is significant, I think, that the text says specifically that we are to build upon THE rock, and not A rock. For there is only one rock, and it is Christ, and his way of life. Many people are drawn to other ways of life. But Christ’s way cannot be improved upon.

A pastor was asked to counsel a woman who was quite depressed. He went by her home. During the visit he noticed three well cared for African violets. Each was a different color and next to them was an empty pot in which this woman was clearly going to plant and nurture another. This lady was a talented gardener. The pastor said he wanted to recommend something for her feelings of depression, but before he did so, he wanted her word that she would follow through with what he asked of her. She agreed. The pastor then said, “Depression isn’t your problem. Your problem is that you aren’t being a very good Christian!” The woman was startled. “What do you mean?” she responded. Then he pointed out her talent for growing African violets. “You have a gift for growing beautiful flowers,” he said as he pointed out the African Violets, “but you are keeping this gift all to your self.” He told her to purchase pots and grow more of these beautiful plants. When she had an adequate supply he wanted her to put an African violet in each of the pots and send one to the mother of every baby born to a member of the church. Then she was to send one to every member of her church who was hospitalized. After he left, she was angry with him for a little while for telling her she was not a very good Christian, but then she began to think about what he had said. She decided to give it a try. She took an African violet to a friend who had recently lost her husband. Then another to a family who just had a new baby. Soon this became a regular part of her life. About ten years later, an article appeared in the local paper. It was titled, “African Violet Queen Dies--Mourned by Thousands.”
Evidently, by living out her Christian faith and sharing her talent with others, this woman’s depression faded away as she discovered a meaningful and satisfying life.

Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock . . .” And it’s true. The teachings of Jesus are the foundation for a meaningful and satisfying life. That’s why people have found so much meaning in Christ’s teachings for these past two thousand years.

But please note: to reap the benefits of Jesus’ teachings, we must act upon them. It’s not enough to say, “Oh, yes, I believe in Christ’s teaching,” but never put those teachings into practice. Jesus says it quite vividly in today’s lesson: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

We can’t try to slip through simply by claiming to believe in Christ’s teachings, and then never allowing those teachings to absorb into our souls--change our lives. If Christ is going to be THE ROCK upon which we are built, we must allow Christ's teachings to inform the practice of our every action. “Everyone who hears these words of mine,” says Jesus, “and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock . . .”

There’s another creed that offers its teachings to us as foundational in our world. It’s the teaching that is expressed by the sentiment “If it feels good, it must be good, so do it.” The cross of Jesus keeps the Christian corrected from this false teaching. For, the cross is every bit the fullness of Christ’s teaching about where to find meaning and satisfaction in life and the way in which we should all live. At the same time, it reminds us that living a life that is pleasing to God, and therefore meaningful and satisfying is not always going to feel good. We all know it’s true, don’t we? Yet, we see and hear stories of people everywhere who live by the “If it feels good, do it” credo, and their lives are a mess. The ones that make the news, of course, are the celebrities. Think Britney or Lindsay or a host of other troubled celebrities. But, we all know friends, family members, neighbors, and others whose lives are a mess because of the shiftiness of the sand beneath this false teaching.

Another false foundation that is given to us is the teaching "If everyone is doing it, it must be good." We all know this foundation to be built upon sand. Just ask the smokers in the room how much this credo has benefited their life. Yet, even thought we know this to be an unstable foundation to build a life upon, we still see people friends, even our church become swayed by the sands of public opinion. My friends, Jesus stands firm on his teaching, and asks to do the same. Just because everyone's doing it, doesn't make it right. But, many in our world still have trouble avoiding this one or saying no to it. This is the one with the most peer pressure attached. This is the one that will challenge the company you keep. Yet, Jesus is clear. Build your life upon this, and its like building upon something that has no foundation. Just doing whatever everyone esle is doing leads us to building upon nothing. By trying to please everyone all the time, we end up pleaseing no one--and most importantly we do not lead lives that are pleasing to God.

Meanwhile I stare out into this congregation every week into the faces of some who have lived by the teachings of Jesus most of their lives and who will tell you they have found a rock--the Rock--upon which to build their lives, and they do not have a moment of regret. Their adherence to Christ’s teachings has helped them have healthy bodies, happy marriages, loving families and an enduring sense of well-being. It doesn’t always happen, of course. There are forces that can mess with our bodies, mess with our marriages, mess with our children--regardless of how devoted we are to Christ. But, all things being equal, the Christ life is the best life possible. The teachings of Jesus are the foundation for a meaningful and satisfying life. To live according to those teachings, however, we must act upon them.

So the message of the day is to be wise. Build your life upon the foundation of THE ROCK. The way of Jesus is the way that leads to Life NOW, and Life Everlasting!

The sad thing in this world is not that many of us are bad people, or that we have some sinister plan to selfishly do everything our way. We aren’t, and we don’t. The truth is that most all of us have good and well meaning intentions. We try, and yet we end up frustrated and unsatisfied with the gift of life. No, the sad thing is one of principals, and priorities. The sad thing is that too many of us in this world spend our lives building upon the wrong foundation. The sad thing is that God has given this world the most secure foundation upon which life can be built, and we go through life half-hearted about our faith in God.

There is a foundation upon which to model and build our lives, our families, our church. It is the teachings of Christ.
Love God
Love neighbor as you love yourself
Show Compassion, Generosity, Hospitality, Mercy,
Live by Faith, Hope and Wisdom of God.

The virtues of discipleship, these are the building blocks of the sure foundation found in the rock of Jesus Christ

Have you been building upon something else?
Let today be the day you turn to faith in Christ instead.

Amen