Matthew 7:24-27 — (Jesus said), “Therefore 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. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
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(…continued) That is what you call “building your house on a rock,” as Jesus once described it in the parable in our Gospel for today. Jesus told about two men– one who built his house on sand and one who built his house on a rock. And then the rains came, and the streams rose, and the wind blew; and one house stood firm and the other house came crashing down.
We can put our trust in many different things in life, but eventually the storms will come. I don’t remember for sure, but I suppose one of the first storms came for me when some of the older kids in the neighborhood started asking me, “How come you are always dragging around that ugly monkey, you big baby?” So, I decided if I wanted to have any friends, I would have to venture out on my own without Muggs. Then, I always liked sports, but I wasn’t much of an athlete, so I knew that wouldn’t get me very far. But I could get good grades, and so I trusted in my intelligence to get some scholarship money for college. How else was I going to afford to further my education with college costing $1,850 dollars a year, plus books? I did get the scholarships, and I did all right in college and seminary. But then, working as a pastor taught me I had a lot more to learn yet, and much of what I needed to know wasn’t in the books. That is another kind of situation that taught me to trust in someone bigger than myself. Raising kids, serious illnesses, death of loved ones, difficult and painful relationships, etc., — those are the kinds of things that keep us looking upward for that more solid foundation for our lives.
Such storms challenge us all to look at what we are trusting in and where it is that we seek our security. I heard of a man who was in his 50’s and was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Chemotherapy might give him a little more time, but would not cure the disease. He would perhaps get another year or two. A friend asked him how he was doing with all that. The dying man said, “Cancer changes your perspective on a lot of things. I have not been paying as much attention to the stock market these days, and I have been paying a lot more attention to Jesus.”
The Teddy Bear Talk later will be about ‘hiding God’s Word in your heart.” That is one way of paying attention to Jesus. Know what he has said, keep in mind what he has promised you, remember his life, death, and resurrection for you, and find your most solid and eternal security there. Listen again to these words from the third chapter of Proverbs that were read earlier: “My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will bring you peace. Let love and faithfulness never leave you… write them on the tablet of your heart… Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” These are not intended to be only words on a page, but to be hidden and kept in our hearts and in our minds.
And this business of trusting in the Lord ‘with all your heart and in all your ways,’ that the Proverbs speak of, is certainly not something that applies only at the end of your life. It is a great blessing to be able to trust in God every day, looking to Him for help and guidance in every aspect of our lives. This is illustrated nicely in a story about Martin Luther, who, for much of his life, seemed to be carrying the whole world on his shoulders. His days were full, his responsibilities were great, his heartache was unending, and many people depended on him for a wide variety of needs. In the midst of all this turmoil, Martin Luther got in the habit of going to the window each night before bed, looking up, and praying: “God, is this my world or Yours? Is this my church or Yours? These people I worry about are in Your world and in Your church– please take care of them. I am tired. I am going to bed. Good night, God.”
Romans 14:8 says, “Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” That’s far better than anything we can manage on our own. As it says in Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure.” Amen.
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Let us pray: Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who depend on You and your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. —Book of Common Prayer
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