One of the amazing pictures that came out of the terrific destruction created by “El Nino” in 1997 was of  residents of the California coastline watching their homes slide into the ocean. Afterward, many of them proclaimed their determination to rebuild on the same slippery slopes!  

Their love for the beautiful oceanic views and lifestyle those locations provided was so great, some were willing - even anxious - to risk their lives and fortunes to the dangers of the unstable foundations.

Far more horrific is the image of people making the same mistake spiritually.  Jesus concluded his famous “sermon on the mount” in Matthew 5-7 with a parable of two house builders. One wisely dug to bedrock to lay his foundation.  The other foolishly built on an unsure foundation of unstable sand. The consequences of those decisions were as sure as they could be.

The first builder was called wise because he not only heard what Jesus taught, he practiced them in his life.  The second builder is called foolish because, although he heard Jesus’ words, he failed to obey them.

When the storms come in our lives, survival depends on our faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus.  Rather than dependence on self, this is dependence on the faithfulness of God. Perhaps with this parable in mind, James, the brother of the Lord, said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”  (James 1:22)

God’s word – the Bible – is wonderfully practical source of wisdom for how we can live.  As the revelation of God’s wisdom and will for man, the Bible gives us a sound, pragmatic and balanced approach to life that serves as a blueprint to help us build for eternity!

For some, this view of the word of God is cold and insensitive, even legalistic.  To be sure, it isn’t the only way God presents himself.  An appealing picture, from a human perspective, is that of Jesus of Nazareth, God in the flesh, who came to give us a living picture of the Father. (John 14:9) Thank God for that picture!  God’s word is more than a compilation of teaching.  But it is the same Jesus who told Philip, “The words I say to you are not just my own.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (John 14:10)  

In the opening testimony of his gospel, John depicted Jesus as “the Word,” a significant description of the divine purpose of Jesus living among men, teaching and preaching the message of good news, the gospel. 

God is the source of true wisdom. May we pray constantly that he will help us to learn it.