An incident in India this past week added a whole new meaning to the phrase,
“rat race.” The headline in USA TODAY read, “Hungry rat shreds more than
$17,500 of cash inside ATM in India.”
At least one
money-hungry rat broke into an ATM and chewed through nearly $18,000
in cash, authorities in India said.
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Officials at the
State Bank of India (SBI) thought the machine was merely
malfunctioning when patrons told them it was no longer dispensing money.
It was “out of order”
since May 20 — then technicians opened it.
Chandan Sharma,
manager of the SBI branch in the town of Tinsukia in the
northeastern state of Assam, told reporters ”they
were shocked to find shredded notes and a dead rat.”
Reports estimate the
destroyed banknotes at between 1.2 and 1.3 million rupees ($17,662
to $19,000).
Police
superintendent Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta said the rat entered the machine
through a hole intended for cables.
Are rats smart? Sure!
This rat built a home, padded his nest, and died surrounded by more cash than
he could spend! And he did it by eating into others’ cash and not his own!
Or maybe he wasn’t
so smart. His warm, comfy nest turned into a trap. He lost his life, and though
he was immensely wealthy, he couldn’t take any of it with him.
So, what are you building your house on?
Reading: Matt
7:24-27
There are some great
hymns that speak about rock as the foundation under the Christian’s house. By
faith we stand and build upon that rock. Here is one:
The Rock that is Higher Than I, by Erastus Johnson
1 O sometimes the
shadows are deep,
And rough seems the path to the goal,
And sorrows, sometimes how they sweep
Like tempests down over the soul!
And rough seems the path to the goal,
And sorrows, sometimes how they sweep
Like tempests down over the soul!
Chorus:
O then to the Rock let me fly,
To the Rock that is higher than I;
O then to the Rock let me fly
To the Rock that is higher than I!
O then to the Rock let me fly,
To the Rock that is higher than I;
O then to the Rock let me fly
To the Rock that is higher than I!
2 O sometimes how
long seems the day,
And sometimes how weary my feet;
But toiling in life's dusty way,
The Rock's blessed shadow, how sweet! (Chorus)
And sometimes how weary my feet;
But toiling in life's dusty way,
The Rock's blessed shadow, how sweet! (Chorus)
3 O near to the Rock
let me keep,
If blessings or sorrow prevail;
Or climbing the mountain way steep,
Or walking the shadowy vale. (Chorus)
If blessings or sorrow prevail;
Or climbing the mountain way steep,
Or walking the shadowy vale. (Chorus)
We could also
mention “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” “Rock of Ages,” “In Christ Alone,”
and others.
There are also many Scriptures that describe God as our rock.
Dt 32:4 “The Rock! His work
is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without
injustice, Righteous and upright is He.
Dt 32:18 “You neglected the
Rock who begot you, And forgot the God who gave you birth.
Dt 32:31 “Indeed their rock
is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this.
Ps 18:2 The Lord is my rock
and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My
shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Ps 18:31 For who is God, but
the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God,
Ps 18:46 The Lord lives, and
blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation,
Ps 19:14 Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my
rock and my Redeemer.
Is 28:16 Therefore thus says
the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly
cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not
be disturbed.
Mt 16:16 Simon Peter
answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus
said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not
reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to
you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the
gates of Hades will not overpower it.
A Tale of Two Builders
Rather than
separating Jesus’ story of the wise and foolish builders from the Sermon on the
Mount, we must realize that it is the “so what” of the entire message. It is
not what one has heard from Jesus, but what one does with it, that determines whether
one’s house will withstand the storms.
It’s a simple but
powerful word picture.
Here are two
otherwise identical men. Both are builders. Both have tools, materials,
knowledge, and skill. Both build something. Both use a foundation. Both will
face storms – wind, rain, lightning. The houses of both will respond to those storms
in some way.
What determines
whether your house will stand or fall? It’s not just the size, composition, or
strength of your house. It’s not the quality of the furnishings and decorations
inside. It’s not just the strength or the frequency of the storms you face.
No house can stand
which lacks a solid foundation.
There Stands a Rock
1. There stands a
rock on shores of time
That rears to Heaven its head sublime.
That rock is cleft, and they are blest
Who find within this cleft a rest.
That rears to Heaven its head sublime.
That rock is cleft, and they are blest
Who find within this cleft a rest.
Refrain
Some build their hopes on the ever drifting sand,
Some on their fame, or their treasure, or their land;
Mine’s on a rock that forever will stand,
Jesus, the Rock of Ages.
Some build their hopes on the ever drifting sand,
Some on their fame, or their treasure, or their land;
Mine’s on a rock that forever will stand,
Jesus, the Rock of Ages.
2. That rock’s a
cross, its arms outspread,
Celestial glory bathes its head;
To its firm base my all I bring,
And to the Rock of Ages cling. [Refrain]
Celestial glory bathes its head;
To its firm base my all I bring,
And to the Rock of Ages cling. [Refrain]
3. That rock’s a
tower, whose lofty height,
Illumed with Heaven’s unclouded light,
Opes wide its gate beneath the dome
Where saints find rest with Christ at home. [Refrain]
So it’s not a matter of merely hearing, but rather of doing that which we have heard. The Word reiterates this elsewhere.
Illumed with Heaven’s unclouded light,
Opes wide its gate beneath the dome
Where saints find rest with Christ at home. [Refrain]
So it’s not a matter of merely hearing, but rather of doing that which we have heard. The Word reiterates this elsewhere.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers
who delude themselves. Jas 1:22
“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
Jn 13:17
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I
say?” Lk 6:46-49
For quite some time
we have been studying “Keys to the Kingdom” from the Sermon on the Mount. Now
let’s think of these keys as tools we must use to build on the rock of Jesus’
teaching.
Every key on your
ring is by nature a tool. It can open doors and secure valuables, but only when
it is put to use. Likewise, Jesus’ keys to the kingdom are worthless unless and
until we put them into practice. The wise builder took the tools Jesus offered,
and with them he built his house on solid rock. What will YOU do with these
tools, the keys to the kingdom?
With that in mind,
let’s review each of the keys to the kingdom we have studied. As we do, let’s write
down some specific ways that one might choose to build either on rock or on
sand.
Attitude - 5:1-12
One would build on rock by developing an insatiable
hunger for the things of God, by actually making peace between two opposing
parties, by caring for specific needs that call for mercy, etc.
One would build on sand by being cocky, full of oneself,
satisfied with his spiritual walk, cold, uncaring, etc.
Now it’s your turn.
Take each of the remaining keys and write, “I will build on the rock by …” “I
will not build on sand by …” Then get into action!
Influence - 5:13-16
Self-Control -
5:17-30
Faithfulness -
5:31-37
Response-Ability -
5:38-42
Love - 5:43-48
Generosity - 6:1-4
Prayer - 6:5-15
Self-Denial -
6:16-18
Investment - 6:19-24
Priority - 6:25-34
Discernment - 7:1-12
Direction - 7:13-14
Obedience - 7:15-23
All the Bible’s warnings
can be seen as signs saying, in effect, “Don’t build on quicksand! Your house
will fall, and you will perish with it!”
At the same time, if
you are sinking in the sand, reach out your hand to Him. As surely as He pulled
Simon Peter up after he sank in the water, He will pull you up and set you on
solid rock.
Ps 40:1 I waited patiently
for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up
out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a
rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song
of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord.
As James Rowe wrote:
|
1
|
I was sinking deep
in sin,
Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I. |
|
|
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me. |
|
2
|
All my heart to
Him I give,
Ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs. |
|
3
|
Souls in danger,
look above,
Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be— Be saved today. |
