June 2008 - Walk with Jesus: Wise or Foolish?

Matthew 7:21-29
“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' 23 Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.' 24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell — and great was its fall!" 28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

These words of Jesus bring a harsh and challenging mandate. Again, in typical fashion, Jesus does not seem clear, at least not to me. (How about you?) I thought prophetic words, shutting down evil things, and acting powerful would make him happy. Doesn’t seem that way, does it? “Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord.” He warns. The dangerous and perhaps eventual words, “Go away,” is the warning.

Anytime Jesus tells a parable, I become a bit uneasy. I have come to realize that his story telling is for me. His story telling aims a divine arrow that has many intentions. Compassion, mercy, affliction, and self-examination are just a few of the things I experience in his parables. This one seems straight forward. Wise people build on rock. Fools build on sand. Wise hear Jesus’ words. Foolish don’t. It should be easy right? I don’t think so.

As soon as I read this parable, I can’t help but think of Paul’s mind bender in I Corinthians (take a break and go read I Corinthians chapter one). His upside down thinking of “fools for Christ” remains a centerpiece in my life. The cross is foolishness to “those,” but to you and me it is the power of God. By now you might be saying, “Now wait just a minute. Which is it fools or wise?” The answer, like so many that come from God’s word is, “Yes.” Both work, I suppose.

Early Christians who were subjects of the powerful Roman Empire were often accused of being atheists. They didn’t believe in the God’s of the prevailing culture. The Roman gods were not god in the hearts, minds, and actions of the followers of Christ. Such attitudes cost many of them their lives. In other words, they were found guilty of not believing in the gods of their culture. Foolish one that I am, I often worry that if such a measuring was done today, I would not be found guilty of atheism in regard to the gods of my culture. How does the evidence stack up against you in your worship of the gods? Yes, Jesus does have high expectations and, yes, the gods of culture have high expectations. Our time, talents, and treasures are going to be placed in one authority of one or the another. How wise are you? Are you a fool for the cross? Are you wise to the authority of the one true God?

You see, this gets confusing, challenging, and even confrontational. Come to worship this week, knowing we have a challenging word from God. Come, knowing that there is only one “authority.” We, like the listeners at Jesus feet, pray that we, too, will recognize the only true authority.

Matthew 7:28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Come, Walk with Jesus!