Build Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house… my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, build wisely — starting now!

Published in: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/building-your-house/

The point to this story is that we all have a "house" to build so to speak. We live every single day building our futures and creating the life that we will live. Many people half-heartedly do the work and they end up in a house that falls smack on the ground when a storm hits. Although it takes time, effort, energy, stamina, endurance, pain, work, strength, etc., you  must build a strong house with the right materials if you are going to make it last. God has given us the blueprint- the Bible. Follow his architectural plans and you will succeed. Sometimes we may not understand, feel capable, or think we have the materials available to do the work that God expects of us, but we must try our very best.

Matthew 7:
[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.

You have heard the sayings of God (the Bible). If we follow His commandments He will ensure stability in times of trials and storms; however, if we disobey His words, we will be like the foolish man whose house had a great fall as soon as the rains came in. Which will you be?

A song I learned years ago in Youth Camp says:
"Don't build your house on a sandy land, don't build it too near the shore. Well, it might look kinda nice, but you'll have to build it twice. You'll have to build your house once more. You better build your house upon a rock. Make a good foundation on a solid spot. Oh, the storms may come and go, but the peace of God you will know."

Jesus is our rock that we must build on. He is the only firm foundation that we can trust to withstand that disasters that will inevitably come our way. Many people try to live on money, fame, reputation, lustful desires, and social expectations, but all of that will pass away. The hope of salvation and life eternal will be the only thing that we can take after we leave this world.

Matthew 24:[35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.


We want God to be able to say of us:  Luke 6:[48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.


-[Destiny Turner]