Everybody wants a house built on rock. Nobody wants a house built on sand. But in Matthew 7, Jesus points out that it’s only wise people who actually bother to build on rock before storms come in. ‘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 winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock’ (vv. 24-25 NIV). When the storms of life come – and they will – it’s too late to lay a solid foundation. That’s when you discover what kind of foundation your life is built on: don’t short-change yourself by using dodgy materials or taking shortcuts. Know your weaknesses, own up to them, and work on them. Some of the strongest people you know have needed help overcoming weaknesses. No-one’s had it together from day one. The pastor of a megachurch recalls his early days, when he prayed that God would increase the size of his ministry. He writes: ‘After days of silence the Lord answered by saying, “You’re concerned with building the ministry but I’m concerned with building the man. Woe to the man whose ministry becomes bigger than he is!” Since then I’ve concerned myself more with praying for the minister than the ministry. I’m still amazed at who I’m becoming as I put my life daily into His hands. He’s changing me – and He’s not finished yet. There’s so much more that needs to be done. Every day I see more immaturity in me. But what a sharp contrast I am to what I was…and I trust God more than ever.’ So work on your relationship with God. Build truths from His Word into your life’s foundation, build wide and deep, and when the storms come you’ll stand.
