Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Use It

Everyone builds on some kind of foundation, but not every foundation is a good one. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:24-27 the parable of 2 men who built on different foundations: “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. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The wise man built upon a foundation of rock and withstood the storm, but the foolish man built his house on a foundation of sand and it fell. God expects us to build properly on the foundation he has prepared to withstand the storms of life.

1 Kings 4:29-34
 29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

The Lord gave Solomon all he needed; wisdom, great insight, and a breadth of understanding that was limitless. Because he used it wisely his famed spread to all the nations who came to sit under his teaching and great wisdom. We should do the same. The wisdom, gifts, and talents that God gives to us should be used for His glory, and shared with the world around us. Amen?