Many times, the Lord used good agricultural and construction practices in His Word to illustrate wisdom and Godliness.  Note how He instructed Amos –

Amos 7:7-8  Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

Also in Jeremiah He reminded us that it is not wise to build on old unstable foundations –

Jeremiah 1:10  See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Peter spoke of Jesus, quoting from the Old Testament –

1 Peter 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

And Paul the Apostle used construction practices in his preaching –

1 Corinthians 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

This morning, we want to see how the Lord used these practices to instruct men in wisdom –

Text: Luke 6:46-49     

I.  The Faithful Man.

Luke 6:46-48  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

  A.  His Plan.  Long term – He planned for the future.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

We will learn more about this statement at the conclusion of the lesson.

Now we need to look at –

  B.  His Preparation

    1.  He searched for the right location. 

    2.  He set out straight lines to follow.

    3.  He settled for nothing less than the solid rock.

         He labored in the unseen things.  He broke up the hard ground and kept digging, persevering until he reached the solid rock.

Are you digging through all of the foundations that you had in this world until you reach Him, the Solid Foundation?

Listen to the Words of the Lord –

Luke 14:26-33  “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. …”

His heart was not in the work!

“….So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

As a believer, is your hope still in your father, your mother, your wife, your children, your brothers, your sisters, or even in yourself?

We do honour and respect them, but we do not worship them or build our lives on them!

No one should come before the Lord!

Once he was on the rock, he began to build upon it, continuing in the work that was not visible to his neighbors.

  C.  His Protection.  He committed himself to the right thing.

2 Timothy 1:12    For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

II.  The Foolish Man.

Luke 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

  A.  His Plan.  He wanted immediate recognition – a position .

3 John 9     I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

  B.  His Preparation. 

    1.  The land was cheap – dirt or sand   

    2.  The labour was easy.

  C.  His Palace was impressive.   Palace?  Yes, I believe so because he could invest in what people could see because he did not invest in that which people do not see.

Why did Jesus share this account of the two men? 

He wants us to realize that the wise man will invest in Jesus Christ, the Lord of his life.  The foolish man wants to be identified with the Lord, but he will only invest in himself.  He is not willing to give himself to searching out the right place, setting out the right lines, and settling for nothing less than building on the right foundation!

We note that –

  D. His loss was permanent.  “and the ruin of that house was great…”

Remember how Esau sold his birthright for a meal, just one meal! He did not count the birthright as being precious and gave it up for a moment of pleasure. He wanted a blessing given to him.  He did not want to be a blessing by obeying God’s will!  Could he have been forgiven? Yes.

If he had repented, could that which he gave up be restored? No! We live with the consequences of our actions.

Genesis 27:36-38  And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

His tears changed nothing, because his heart was not changed!  He had been building a house on earth, dirt and sand, only caring about the immediate, present satisfaction.

What about us?  To build something that will last!

Are you laboring in the unseen work of God – Devotions, Bible Study, Prayer?

His strength will be with us –

Psalm 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.