A Devotional Based on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder
Matthew 7:24-27
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
A young woman, contemplating accepting a proposal of marriage from a young man that she was not certain about, asked her friend and colleague for her opinion. The friend responded with this foolish advice, “Go ahead and say yes. If you don’t like the marriage, you can always get out of it.” This opinion is wrong on so many levels, but many are going into marriage with as little foundation as this.
Marriage is a holy ordinance of God that must be entered into prayerfully and with as much certainty as possible. Few situations affect our lives as much as choosing the right marital partner. The foundation of every marriage must be the Word of God, Jesus Christ. What the young woman must know is that not everyone is so willing to leave a marriage once entered. The young man in question might not be the “quitting” kind. One of the first things that the young woman must do is examine her own heart. What is giving her “pause” about the young man? She should remember that marriage is not only an emotional relationship; it is also a business relationship. She might just be seeing red flags that she is attempting to ignore. She should ask herself if she is in love with the individual or just in love with being in love. Is the young man saved and living for the Lord? Does he love Jesus more than he loves her? What do others such as her family and wise friends say about them as a couple? Has she sought godly counsel? What does her Pastor say about the two of them? Most important of all, what does the Lord say about the two of them? Have they spent enough time together to see each other for who they are? Have they both observed the rule, “You are not married until you’re married” so a strong physical attraction does not cloud good judgment?
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder speaks to us about the danger of building a house on a wrong foundation, for that house will inevitably fall. In like manner, a marriage built upon a shaky foundation is doomed to fail before it begins.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please give your people the wisdom to hear Your Voice concerning a potential marriage partner, the patience to wait for Your answer and the strength to honor You with purity as both parties seek Your face. Let Thy Will prevail in both lives. In the matchless name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.