Parable of the Wise Man's Foundation

[bcbsr]

The Parable of 
A Wise Man's Foundation

Matt 7:24-27; Lk 6:47-49

Luke 6:47-49  Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like.  He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock.  But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." (web)

 

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Discussion Questions

How do you measure the depth of a person's convictions concerning any particular thing? 
What is the foundation? The rock? (1Cor 3:11; 1Cor 10:4) 
What is the digging process, and how can you lay your foundation deeper? 
Why are some houses built without solid foundations? 
What excuses do people give for their shallow faith?

 

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Comments

This parable speaks of Application Oriented Faith. The quality of faith that saves is one which is deeply rooted on the level of a conviction. It is not a trivial, experimental faith. The true believer has dug deep into himself and into the scriptures, becoming firmly convinced of the truth. It is inevitable that such convictions will reveal themselves through their applications. There are those who listen simply to gain information. But the believer listens to gain applications. In an age of easy-believism, this concept is often suppressed in the Christian community.

Application oriented faith causes one to stand firm under trials. But a nominal faith on the foundational truths ends in destruction and the wrath of God. Their destruction is complete. They have no part in salvation. There are those who are simply playing church. Yes they build a house, and it may even look like a truth believer's house, until it is subject to trials. Then its foundation is revealed. They are like those described in another parable:

"Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." Luke 8:13

I've noticed also that the more spiritually mature tend to focus back on the foundation truths. Whereas those who merely consider themselves the spiritually elite, but are actually immature, become obsessed over trivial and even unbiblical matters and go beyond what is written. (1Cor 4:6)

Let me tell you of one who does what I say  He digs down deep, a foundation to lay  Upon the rock his house will stand  Amidst the torrent and Satan's hand.  But the one who doesn't do what I say  Will not be prepared for that day.  If you build your house on the sand  It will be washed from the land  All your works will be destroyed  And God's wrath you can't avoid.

 

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The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

Edited August 14, 2019 by bcbsr