Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
In the opening passage, Jesus was making a comparison between the wise and foolish men. The difference in how they reacted to a crisis lies in the different foundations of their lives. We can either build our foundation on the sand which will not withstand the flood, or on the rock. Jesus warns us that the rain and the flood will come sooner or later, and the sole determinating factor of whether the building with stand is its foundation.
The fool is someone who lacks foresight, is more concerned about present earthly pleasures than eternity, has no respect for God nor prioritises the things of God. This person’s confidence is in themselves rather than in God.
As Christians, we thought we would know better, but as it turns out, many Christians have been deceived into building their foundation on the sand by building their identity on the sense of self and self-worth. Although they know that the present life is temporal, they are still putting a great emphasis on it, and have neglected the eternity where they will be spending with God. Forgetting the command to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything will be added to us, they have chosen to pursue everything that this life has to offer by seeking significance through their sense of self-worth and earthly treasures instead of seeking God first.
Both buildings were built in the same location, and encountered the same storm and flood. Although we can’t visually differentiate between the two buildings, nor can we see their foundations, we will know their difference when the storm hits and the flood arises. Similarly, all of us will face challenges in life, and we will either respond in faith if we have developed ourselves well in the Word, or succumb to the pressures of the tribulation. Therefore, Jesus is encouraging us to build our foundation on the Word of God, so that we will be able to withstand the tribulation when it comes.
Sermon Series: He Came to Give You a New Identity (Part 2)
什么是你的身份根基？
马太福音7:24-27 所以凡听见我这话就去行的，好比一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石上。 雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子总不倒塌。因为根基立在磐石上。凡听见我这话不去行的，好比一个无知的人，把房子盖在沙土上。 雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子就倒塌了。并且倒塌得很大。
在这段经文中，耶稣把聪明人和愚昧人作了对比。他们对危机反应的不同在于他们生命根基的不同。我们可以把我们的根基建立在不能抵御洪水的沙子上，也可以把它建立在磐石上。耶稣警告我们，雨和洪水迟早会到来，建筑物能否抵御洪水的唯一决定因素是根基。
愚拙的人是缺乏远见的人。他关心当下的世俗享乐更甚于关心永生，既不尊重 神，也不以神的事为先。这个人的信心在于他自己而不是 神。
作为基督徒，我们以为自己懂得更多，但事实证明，许多基督徒被蒙骗，将身份根基建立在自我成就和价值上，这就如同把根基建立在在沙子上。虽然他们知道现在的生命是短暂的，但他们仍然非常重视它，却忽略了他们那将与神共度的永生。他们忘了神命令我们先寻求祂的国和祂的义，然后一切都会加给我们了。相交予应该先寻求上帝，他们通过自我的价值感和尘世的财富来寻求意义，选择追求今生所能提供的一切。
这两栋建筑都建在同一地点，它们遭遇了同样的风暴和洪水。我们无法以肉眼区分这两座建筑，也看不到地基。然而，当风暴来袭，洪水汹涌时，我们就会知道有何不同了。同样地，我们每个人都会在生命中面临挑战，如果我们已经以神的话语充分栽培了自己，就能以信心应对，否则就会被患难压垮。因此，耶稣鼓励我们将根基建立在神的话语之上，这样当患难来袭之时我们就能岿然不动。
讲章系列：祂来给你一个新身份（第二部分）
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