Sandcastles
January 7, 2016
Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on rock.
Earlier in the summer I was watching some children playing at the beach. They were having a big time building a sandcastle. They were good at using cups and buckets to shape their castle of sand. They were happy as could be. Then the waves came. They didn’t panic. They did the strangest thing. They jumped to their feet squealing with delight, water swirling around their toes, watching the water wash away their creation. They were not sad, mad or bitter. Even children know the inevitable end of sandcastles. If only we all could be so wise. The stuff of this world which we spend so much time, energy and effort to amass is about as permanent as sandcastles on the beach. But that doesn’t seem to deter us. We get so caught up in our stuff. We panic when it gets threatened. When things go wrong, We fall to pieces, stress over it, get defined by it, and depressed and angry if we lose it. Remember, however, that God did not create you and me to live in a bigger house, to have all the toys, to drive the newest car, stay in the best places or dine at expensive restaurants. He created us for his glory, for love and relationships. Enjoy your castles, but remember not to get too attached to them, because sandcastles are not permanent. Don’t build your life around stuff that will wash away. Build your life on the teaching and principles of God’s Word. You will be building on solid rock that will last forever.
Earlier in the summer I was watching some children playing at the beach. They were having a big time building a sandcastle. They were good at using cups and buckets to shape their castle of sand. They were happy as could be. Then the waves came. They didn’t panic. They did the strangest thing. They jumped to their feet squealing with delight, water swirling around their toes, watching the water wash away their creation. They were not sad, mad or bitter. Even children know the inevitable end of sandcastles. If only we all could be so wise. The stuff of this world which we spend so much time, energy and effort to amass is about as permanent as sandcastles on the beach. But that doesn’t seem to deter us. We get so caught up in our stuff. We panic when it gets threatened. When things go wrong, We fall to pieces, stress over it, get defined by it, and depressed and angry if we lose it. Remember, however, that God did not create you and me to live in a bigger house, to have all the toys, to drive the newest car, stay in the best places or dine at expensive restaurants. He created us for his glory, for love and relationships. Enjoy your castles, but remember not to get too attached to them, because sandcastles are not permanent. Don’t build your life around stuff that will wash away. Build your life on the teaching and principles of God’s Word. You will be building on solid rock that will last forever.