How to Avoid Being a Fool

Jesus finished His most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, with a well-known metaphor. If you grew up in the church, you probably heard it even as a little kid. 

It's a parable about two men -- one who built his house on the sand and one who built his house on the rock. In the parable, both houses undergo the same circumstances. Both are put to the test by a torrential storm. Both houses are overwhelmed by wind, rain, and flood. The house built on the rock withstands the storm, but the house built on sand falls with a great crash.  

The point Jesus is making with this parable is to draw a parallel between two different types of people who listen to His teaching. One He labels as wise, and the other as foolish. It probably goes without saying, but in the parable, it's the foolish man who built his house on the sand and the wise man who built his house on the rock. 

And just like the two houses in the parable undergo the same circumstances, Jesus says the wise and the foolish experience the same circumstances when it comes to His teaching. Both the wise and the foolish persons make an effort to hear Jesus’ teaching. Both listen and take it in. This would be equivalent to regularly reading the Bible, going to church and engaging in a service, or listening to a podcast sermon. 

But just like the houses, there's a significant difference between the wise and foolish listeners. While both the wise and foolish hear Jesus' teaching, only one puts it into practice. He starts His parable by saying, 

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine..."

In the context of Matthew 5-7, Jesus is talking about the sermon He just delivered, but the same could be said of all His teachings. And then goes on to say, 

"... and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24). 

Then he says, "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 7:26).

The point being that wisdom only comes when you put knowledge into practice. Wisdom is not about simply amassing knowledge. It's about knowing how to apply the knowledge and insight you've received.  

Just going to church, reading the Bible, or listening to sermons on a podcast doesn't make you wise. You actually have to do the things that you are learning. 

So what is God teaching you? Are you putting yourself in a place to be taught by Him? Are you willing to do the things that He's teaching? 

They might be difficult. They may stretch you outside your comfort zone. But the abundant life of Christ is waiting for you if you do.