“O ye simple understand wisdom: and, ye fools be ye of an understanding heart. (Prov. 8:5)
Allow me to draw your attention to a simple passage of scripture. Nearly everyone is familiar with it. Parents teach it to their children. Children often sing a song about it. This message is one of importance for older folk too. Listen to Jesus.
“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won't collapse, for it is built on rock. But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash." (Matt 7:24-28)
These verses powerfully illustrate the wisdom and authority behind all the things Jesus has been talking about in what we know as the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. They have to do with authority, teaching and obedience.
Jesus contrasts a wise man to a foolish man. A wise man will find out what Jesus says, just as a wise man will build his house upon a safe foundation. A wise man will hear, which means he understands the teaching, and then he will DO what Jesus teaches. He will obey.
In contrast the man, who hears and understands but does NOT obey what Jesus instructs, is likened to a foolish man. Friends, none of us want to be identified as fools, now do we? We all want to show ourselves to be wise people. This teaching of Jesus is the very essence of our purpose for being upon the earth.
A wise man named Solomon also came to a conclusion of living a wise life upon this earth. His conclusion is very much like the conclusion of Jesus. He says, “After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that man was created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.” (Eccl 12:13-14)
What about it friend, do you have a wise and understanding heart? Are you DOING what Jesus teaches?