24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matthew 7:24-27
Foundations
As He concluded the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the Son of a carpenter, used this illustration about the importance of a firm foundation. A house is too valuable of an investment to recklessly build on something as unstable as sand. The wise builder constructs his house on a firm foundation. With such a foundation nature can beat on a house with rain and wind and not knock it down. None of us would want a house that does not have a solid foundation, but are we as concerned about the foundation of our home? Jesus, the Son of God, has equipped us to have a solid foundation for our home. He is the Rock we build on. If we are wise.
Dangers
The world is rough. The world is dangerous. Our children are constantly beaten by Satan’s wind and rain. We have all seen the statistics regarding teen pregnancies, teen addictions, teen depression, teen suicides, etc. We tend to point the finger at the break down of the family unit and the numerous children being raised in single-parent homes. But sometimes it is healthy for us to look at the hand that is doing the finger-pointing. This is not a guilt trip. I am not really concerned about toe-stepping or hurt feelings. There is too much at stake to worry about such things.
Decisions
As parents, what kind of foundation have we given our children? Do we shower them with unconditional love? Do they know the security that comes from parents that love each other? Do they know that we love them enough to set boundaries? Do they know that discipline, tough love, will result if boundaries are crossed? Do they know that we trust them enough to give them the freedom to grow, often by falling? How do they see us respond to trials? Are our homes filled with gossip? Do our children see in us a true reverence for God and respect for His Word? Do they know that even though their parents aren’t perfect, our faith rests on the Rock? Our Savior who left His home so we could have a firm foundation for ours.
Priorities
When you read the Gospels, you have to be impressed with how intentional Jesus lived. I am convicted every time I contrast His lifestyle with mine. It is so easy to go through the motions day after day making sure the bills are paid and the house is maintained. In other words, I devote so much of my time to the things Jesus tells us are secondary. My home is supposed to have priority over my house. The decisions I make and the life I live are setting the foundation for the lives of my children and now grandchildren. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us that being is more important than doing. We might fool others, but we can’t fool our children. They are watching the walk much more closely than the talk. And they are going to imitate us more often than not. The world is rough. The world is dangerous. What type of foundation are we giving our children?
Legacy
I like trees. I appreciate the size and strength of a white oak and the distinct shape of a pin oak. Who isn’t impressed by the vibrant colors of crab apples in the spring and maple trees in the fall? Not to be outdone, are the ornamental trees such as Japanese maples that show off their colors all summer long. Years ago I heard of a Chinese proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is now”. I am not sure how long ago this proverb began but I am guessing it originated before the invention of the spade. At least as we know them today. To make up for lost time I have had numerous trees spaded in my yard. Although the trees are much larger than saplings, I know that I will not be around long enough to enjoy the hardwoods in their “prime”. I will enjoy them while I can, but I hope they will be enjoyed by my children and theirs after them. That is the beauty of leaving a legacy. Such is the foundation of our home.
When it comes to leaving a solid foundation for our children, there are no spades. We can not go back in time. We can not go back twenty years for a do-over, but we do have today to plant new seeds. I am not one for making New Year’s resolutions, nor am I one to accept the status quo. Won’t you join me in looking at the foundation of your home for the sake of the children? Perhaps an honest evaluation will find cracks to be patched. I am confident all of us have areas of our life where the garbage needs to be carried out to the curb and left for God to spread as far as the east is from the west. We all have sins of omission and commission that need to be repented of. If none come to your mind, ask your children, they are watching your walk. Chances are, for good or bad, they are going to build on the foundation you and I are leaving them.
Urgency
When Jesus returned to the Father to prepare our future homes, He did not leave us alone. He left us His Words to build on and His Spirit to enable us. He knows the importance of firm foundations whether for our souls or for our homes. The legacy is up to us. Will we be wise and live intentional lives obedient to the Word of God or will we allow the enemy to set our agendas and let the chips fall where they may? If so, Christ has already warned us, there will be a fall and it will be a great one. The winds are blowing and the rain is coming, today is a good day to plant those seeds and patch the cracks in the foundation. Your children and grandchildren will thank you and your Father will be glorified. Families and firm foundations were His ideas.