WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR LIFE ON?
Last week Sherry and I were honored to attend the Annual General Meeting (General Council) of the Burundi Assembly of God Fellowship (BAGF). The history of the BAGF is short and full of God’s graceful action. Founded in 2001 during the last few years of a prolonged civil war, the BAGF has weathered incredible difficulties and emerged victorious.
I marveled at the reports of churches planted and lives transformed by the gospel of Christ. I heard visionary plans for a positive future in an economically challenged nation. God has blessed us to work alongside these men and women of God who are laying a solid foundation for the future.
The depth of a foundation determines the height of that which rests on it. You cannot build a two-story building on a one-story foundation. Well, you can, but you will also be witness to the collapse of that building. This principle also works in life and leadership.
Luke chapter six reminds us that building on a solid foundation enables us to withstand the difficulties of our existence. In this lengthy chapter, Luke records two sermons by Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount and The Sermon on the Plain.
Most are familiar with the first sermon because of the Beatitudes. In His second sermon, Jesus teaches us to:
Do good to those who hate us.
Bless those who curse us.
Pray for those who spitefully use us.
Turn the other cheek to those who strike us.
Give generously to everyone who asks us.
And, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
He also lays out four laws that impact our everyday life:
The Law of Reciprocity: if you condemn, you will be condemned; if you forgive, then you will be forgiven
The Law of Leadership: whom you follow matters because you will become like the leader
The Law of Perspective: make sure you look at the log in your eye before you point out the speck in someone else’s eye
The Law of the Harvest: if we sow good seed, we get good fruit (personal holiness)[1]
Then Jesus brings the sermon to a conclusion in Luke 6:46-49:
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete” (Lk 6:46-49)
WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD?
The first sentence of this parable is the key to what Jesus is about to teach. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
This is an important question! The word Lord in this verse points to the idea of a master. You see, when we put our faith in the person of Jesus Christ, there will be a change in our attitude and our behavior.
When you repent of sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ, you become a new creation. That means our attitude toward enemies changes. Our love for the things of the world ends. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to stop doing those things that displease God.
Paul wrote to the Ephesian church saying,
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph 4:25-32).
Ephesians chapter four is all about living in the light of God, not in the darkness of evil. Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus that when they put their faith in Christ, the old man is put off, and the new man of Christ is put on.
The same is true for you and me. Because of Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin. The traps of Satan no longer bind us. We’ve been made entirely new. We possess the power to overcome sin because Jesus overcame sin. We can live victorious lives because Jesus rose victorious over death, hell, and the grave.
You may ask, “Is righteous living even possible today?” Is it possible to live a life that pleases God in a world where even “church people” fail to act with integrity?
The answer is yes! The book of Titus tells us that the grace of God teaches us to live sensible, righteous, and godly lives in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). How is this done? It happens when you and I cooperate with the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to obey the commands of the Lord.
This brings us back to the question Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Jesus’s words raise an essential question: “What does it mean to call Jesus ‘Lord’?”
A MAJOR CHALLENGE IN THE MODERN CHURCH
There is a challenge facing the worldwide church in 2023. We call people to accept Christ as their savior but do not challenge people to submit to Him as Lord.
The word Lord in Luke 6:46 is the Greek κύριος (kyrios). It is translated in other Bible verses as master or sir. The term expresses the idea of someone to whom another person or thing belongs. For the believer, this implies that f you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you belong to Him!
Now, we get pretty excited about that idea, and we should! But stop momentarily and think deeply about what it means to “call Jesus Lord.” If we belong to Him and He is our κύριος, then He gets to make all the decisions about our life.
He decides where and with whom we go.
He decides what and with whom we do.
Paul told the church at Corinth, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Cor 19b-20a). Let me explain this: “Jesus is in charge of our life.” He has the final say in every single matter. Yes, He gives us common sense to make good decisions. Yes, He even gives us the right to choose good or evil. But that doesn’t mean He is not in charge of and wants the final say in all the issues of a believer’s life.
When we say, “Jesus is Lord,” we promise to obey His commands. To go where He wants me to go. To do what He wants me to do. To talk the way He wants me to talk. To live the way He wants me to live. To give the way He taught me to give.
If this is the case, we come to another question, “Why would someone call Jesus Lord and then ignore His teaching?”
Remember the law of the harvest? If we sow bad seeds, then we get bad fruit. Jesus said there are those who “honor [Him] with their lips, but their hearts are far from [Him]” (Mt 15:8 - emphasis mine). Followers of Jesus do not just hear what Jesus says; they do what He says. They act on His words. They let the teachings of Jesus have first place in the stuff of their life – even the ordinary and mundane parts!
Jesus tells a parable about the wise and foolish servants to drive home the idea of obedience. In this story, Jesus shows us what it looks like to be people who honor God with our words and actions.
GOOD FOUNDATION
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built (Lk 6:47-48).
To understand this parable, we must answer a few questions. First, who are the “they” Jesus talks about in 6:48?
“they” are the people who call Jesus Lord and do what He says.
“they” are people who come to Jesus, listen to Jesus, and obey Jesus.
Their words and actions make them wise builders who dig deep, find bedrock, and build on it. When the storms come, the house stands, and “they” remain safe.
Committed disciples listen to Christ and respond to His teachings with obedience. Sure, sometimes it takes us some time to come to obedience. We are not robots without will or choice: we have areas in our lives where obedience is not easy. But those committed to Jesus being the Lord of their lives do whatever it takes to align themselves with His teachings.
Just like a doctor “practices” medicine, we “practice” obedience. What do I mean by that? A doctor continually learns new techniques and treatments to serve their patient well. Committed Christians have more than a surface relationship with Jesus. They constantly learn (from the Holy Spirit) new ways to honor God with their lives. They take the time to learn how Jesus walks; then, they walk like Him.
This parable made perfect sense to the people Jesus was talking to. In the Middle East, there are only a few rainfalls each year. However, when the “rainy season” comes, there is a high possibility of flooding, and it is common for these floods to wash away poorly built homes. But those who dug deep under the sand until they hit bedrock, then secured the foundation to it, can withstand the storms.
No one thinks about the foundation of their house when the sun is shining. But when we get lots of rain, floods, and storms, we start thinking, “I hope the foundation of my house is good!” The same is true of life. When the sun shines, and things seem to be going well, we don’t think about our foundation. But when the storms come and the tests come, then we begin to see whether or not we have built our lives on a foundation of obedience to the teaching of Jesus.
BAD FOUNDATION
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation (Lk 6:49).
Now Jesus gives us the picture of those who come to Jesus, do not listen to Him, and do not obey Him. They claim to know Jesus but live in disobedience to His word. They hear Jesus’s words, but their hearts are far from Him.
From the outside, the house on the rock and the one on the sand look the same. They may be painted the same color and have the same doors and windows. Only the storms reveal the strength of a house’s foundation.
If we have built our lives on being a Christian in name only, then everything in our life is shaken when the storms come (and they will come).
This can be a good thing! Sometimes God will send circumstances our way to wake us up. Sometimes God will send the storms our way to help us see that we have been pretending to walk with Him. God loves us enough to send tests that reveal areas of our lives where He wants to help us get victory.
OBEDIENCE IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Now, when some Christians hear teaching like this, they somehow think God expects them to obey His Son in their own power. Nothing could be further from the truth! As Bob Hoekstra says, “The born-again follower of Jesus is not designed to operate on his own best efforts.”[2]
God spoke to Israel through the prophet Ezekiel saying:
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws (Ez 36:26-27 – emphasis mine).
God promises to empower His children to obey His word. Zechariah reminds us that it’s not by might or by our power that we can obey the commands of the Lord but by the Spirit of the LORD Almighty. Jesus said we would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work on this earth.
CONCLUSION
Let me ask you, “What are you building your life on?” Have you placed your faith in your work or ability to earn money? Have you put your trust in your family, who rallies around you when you have hard times? Have you built the foundation of your life on your talent, skill, ability, or charm?
None of these things are bad, but none are not meant to be the foundation of your life. People will fail. Money will fail. Strength will fail. Abilities will fail. Like a sand castle at high tide, these things are swallowed up by the circumstance of life; you find yourself on shaky ground.
I am challenging you to ask the Lord to search your heart. Lord, am I building on your teaching? Lord, am I building my life on my faith in you? I challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to overcome that sin that is causing you so much trouble.
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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Sermon-on-the-Plain.html
[2] Hoekstra, B. "The Work of the Holy Spirit unto Obedience by Bob Hoekstra." Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 1 Jan, 2009. https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/dbdbg/view.cfm
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