HomeWord - Nov. 7, 2007
The Wisdom of Beavers: Building on a Solid Foundation
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
"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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
Beavers have been maintaining and caring for the forests and wetland areas long before the forest service. The dams they build are solid and extremely durable. They serve the beavers by acting as protection from predators and helping provide access to food, especially in the winter. One interesting fact about beaver dams is that they are so strong that the best way to get rid of them is by blasting through them with dynamite. You’d never know this by looking at one. What looks on the outside like a ragtag collection of sticks and twigs is really an incredible fortress that is built from the bottom, up. Beavers start their dams using larger poles, branches, and existing boulders as the strong foundation for their home.
In the Gospel of Matthew we find Jesus speaking of the necessity of having a strong spiritual foundation. In the Scripture passage above, both men who built their houses received the same instruction and endured the same circumstances in life. The main difference was the foundation upon which they built their house. The wise man built his house on a rock and his home endured the storm.
The other man – the fool – built his house on the sand. And even though life threw him the very same storm that the wise man went through, the fool’s house was washed away. He did not have a strong enough foundation to weather life’s storms. Even though everything on the surface appeared to be the same between the two homes, structurally there was a significant difference.
Jesus’ teaching is clear. Wise people build their lives upon the strong foundation of obedience. They not only hear His words, but also obey them. Those who are foolish might hear Jesus’ words, but don’t act upon them. Are you wise or foolish? What kind of foundation have you built your life on? It is easy to get caught up in all the world has to offer and put obedience to Jesus on the backburner. But be forewarned…when the storms of life come, in order to keep your feet on solid ground and full of hope, you will want to be living on the rock of the Lord.
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GOING DEEPER:
1. What type of foundation is your house built on?
2. What does the Scripture say you need to do in order to have a firm foundation?
FURTHER READING:
Luke 13:25-27; James 1:21-24; 2 Timothy 2:19
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