Decisions

Introduction

Life is filled with all kinds of decisions. There are decisions about physical well-being, about diet and medical care and lifestyle. Decisions about career and about certain purchases that will stay on your credit card for a long time as you pay them off in increments. There are educational decisions and decisions about relationships—about who you’re going to marry, who you’re going to associate with, who you’re going to partner with. On and on with the decisions, including decisions about morals.

For the disciple of Jesus, however, there is a decision that is far more significant than all other decisions. It is a spiritual decision. It is a decision about your spiritual life and an eternal decision. Some do not think about such a decision. Many years ago, for an academic course I had to write an essay on my philosophy of life. As it was explained to me, we all have philosophies about life, we just might not consider them. Such is the case with our spiritual decision. We will make one, but we may do so without thinking about the decision. We get so busy living life that we don’t think about our eternal decision.

Jesus masterfully called people’s attention to the eternal decision. Rarely did he allow an interaction with someone pass without reminding them that there was more than this physical life. Such is the case in the text that we will be looking at this morning. At the end of Luke 6, Jesus calls for a decision. As we have seen over and over again, he uses a story to make his point. It is a story which our children sing about—the wise and foolish man. Today as we study this story we too must consider that there is more than this physical life and we will be challenged to decide our eternal destiny.

The Context

Beginning in 6:17, Luke gives his account of Jesus’ sermon on the plain. As we read through this chapter, it sounds much like Matthew 5-7 which is entitled the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus could have easily preached the same sermon on two different occasions. There is no reason to see a contradiction between Matthew and Luke. Jesus begins in Luke 6 with reminding his disciples that they are to recognize their spiritual poverty and that they are to love their enemies. These words would have caused his listeners to become deeply introspective. Why? Acknowledging sin and trying to love those who hurt you were not easy. Yet, Jesus does not allow those who claim to be his disciples any latitude.

At the end of chapter 6, Jesus calls for a decision. After giving his clear teaching about how his disciples will act, he now calls for obedience to his will and commands. With the call for a decision Jesus tells a story. Two men want to build a house. One man digs down into the earth and constructs his house so that the foundation is firmly built upon the rock which exists below the soil’s surface. Floods came. In Jesus’ world, there are wadis—dry creek beds which flood easily during the rainy season. The rains came, the dry creek beds began to get moist and wet, and then when the rain didn’t stop the water overflowed the banks of that creek and flowed to the house. The house stood against the powerful water. This man Jesus says is the one who hears his words and puts them into practice.

The other man wants to build a house as well. He builds his house during the dry season. He has heard the warnings but ignores the words. He begins to build his house without digging into the ground to find the rock under the soil. Instead the house is constructed on top of the ground. The rainy season comes and the wadis overflow their banks. The rushing water hits against the house and because there is no foundation, the house collapses.

So What?

We are familiar with this story. The heading in my Bible uses the terms “The Wise and Foolish Builders.” There is great similarity between Luke’s writing and Matthew’s, but we must read Luke without trying to bring Matthew into the picture. Luke does not use the words “wise” or “foolish.” Nor does his record of this parable begin in the same way as Matthew’s does. The point—not only does this signal that Jesus probably was giving a similar sermon as found in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, but in Luke’s case the point is to make a decision about Jesus.

Luke’s account is much more pointed. Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say? The word “Lord” is intended to reflect deep and intense commitment and faith. It is a word which would have reflected the users deep faith. After all, the word “lord” would not have been attributed haphazardly toward anyone. The fact that the word is repeated further heightens its significance. Why do you call me “Lord, Lord” and do not do what I say? Do we ever do that? We say “I love you Lord” but we want what we want when we want it. We say “You are my All in All” but everyone gives in to sexual temptation. We say “You are the words and the music” but that person is just a cashier. We say “Shine Jesus Shine” but pardon our cursing.

The one who comes to Jesus and puts his words into practice builds a firm house. The one who comes to Jesus and fails to put his words into practice builds a flimsy house. Don’t call Jesus Lord unless you are going to do what he says. What’s the point of the parable? It has to do with obedience. The one who obeys Jesus will stand. The one who disobeys will be destroyed. He is talking about eternity. Don’t fool yourself. Don’t miss the point. This is about deciding where you will spend eternity. The one who hears and obeys stands. The one who hears and disobeys is destroyed.

You can’t sing good songs on Sunday about your commitment and then fail to live for Jesus Monday through Saturday without understanding that you will be destroyed. It is your choice. We all make choices every day. Every day is about whose voice and words you will hear and practice. What kind of house are you building? The invitation stands before you.

Follow Jesus

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