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What do you see when you look at this picture? Does this look like a wise place to build a castle? Do you think the builder foolish? Is the picture a newer perspective on the age old question; "is the glass half empty or half full?" What comes to mind?
Matthew has Jesus sharing the following wise cautionary tale at the end of his sermon on the mount:
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
Jesus' teaching came to my mind when I first laid eyes on this photo. Though the castle seems to be set in a precarious position, I imagined that this castle has weathered countless storms over the years. I can imagine the owner proclaiming with delight, "Thank you Lord; my castle is still standing" each and every time he/she cast eyes on it.
Jesus says that everyone who hears his words and does them will be like the wise builder whose house withstands the storms of life.
Our stewardship theme this year is The Joy of Giving! I know of no greater building material in life than the joy of giving.The Greek word for joy is chara and the Greek word for grace is chare; joy and grace are both gifts from God and when we share these gifts; i.e. do what Jesus says to do, the house/castle we build can withstand all life's storms.
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