Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
Matthew 7:24, 26 NIV
The parable in Matthew 7:24–27 confirms something that applies to every one of us: every person is a builder. Whether you are intentional, deliberate, or conscious of it or not, the fact remains. Whoever hears the words of Jesus and puts them into practice is building on the right foundation — rock. Whoever hears and does not act is building on sand.
The Difference Is Your Response
Both categories Jesus described in the parable did not appear to be doing anything differently. Yet the difference between them was simply their response to His words. One acted on what they heard; the other did not.
Meanwhile, Jesus was not speaking only to those before Him. The truth extends to everyone who hears, in any form and at any point in time. You might hear through attending church, a roadside preacher, or social media. It might also come through a film, the Bible, a tract, or a blog post. In some cases, as Saul experienced on the road to Damascus, the hearing is a direct personal encounter with God. But whatever form it takes, the question that follows is always the same: what action did you take after hearing? What is your response?
Furthermore, there is no partiality in how this works out. What eventually becomes of what you build is not the result of preferential treatment. It is the result of your own personal decision.
What Building on the Right Foundation Actually Requires
Paul consciously calls our attention to this same truth in 1 Corinthians 3:10–15. By the grace God gave him, he laid a foundation as a wise builder. That foundation is Jesus Christ, and no other will do. Whoever is building on the right foundation, however, must build with care — because the materials they use will matter.
The materials Paul names are specific. Gold, silver, and costly stones stand on one side; wood, hay, and straw on the other. The day will consequently bring every person’s work to light, and fire will test its quality. If the work survives, the builder receives a reward. If it burns up, the builder suffers loss. Yet Paul is clear: even that builder escapes, as one barely through the flames.
Living It Out
Every one of us is ultimately a builder, whether we are conscious of it or not. What kind of builder are you? Your response to God’s word — in whatever form you hear it — is the answer.