The Smart Carpenter Isn't Afraid To Ask

Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit - but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”         Matthew 27:24-27

I’m sure we all have something we are pondering today.  Something we are questioning or trying to decide upon.  Maybe one of us is questioning whether to seek out a new job, another is deciding whether to have another baby, maybe you are wondering where to go to college or where to go on your next vacation.  Every day we are faced with so many questions.  There are a number of decisions to be made for us and our families on a daily basis.  Some are big and will cause a major life change and others are small like what to make for supper or what to wear to work.    

Now here is my question, “Where are you looking for your answers?”  Do you discuss your questions with your friend or co worker?  Maybe you and your spouse have been talking over some ideas, some of you might be hashing things out with a counselor or pastor, while others may just be making decisions based on your mood that day.  Have you ever asked God what He thinks?  Do you ever include God in your decisions?  It may sound silly to some of you, but I do believe that God cares about what we do and He likes to be included in our life choices.

The scripture above made me think of the times I am confronted with big decisions in my life.  It made me realize that if I don’t consult God first and wait for His answer then I am making a decision that may be hazardous to my family, my life, my job......If I don’t consult God’s word and seek His guidance when making a big decision then I am starting whatever that is on sinking sand.  I am not giving it a strong foundation to stand on and it may not be able to withstand.  Further more when I learn valuable information regarding life choices it does me no good to just know it.....I am then expected to apply it.  Just studying the bible in a bible study does nothing for me if I am not willing to let it make decisions for me.  If I don’t let the word of God change my life then I’m not placing much value in it.  

I don’t know about you but I don’t want my plans sink in the sand.  I want God in control and I want Him to guide me.  I want my plans and decisions to be set on a solid foundation so that they will succeed.  It’s easy to give God control after we have tried our way for a while and nothing works.  It takes much more faith to give God control from the very beginning, and to ask Him, first, before we make that big decision to buy a new car or book that next vacation.  It takes discipline and sometimes a ton of patience but basing your life on God’s Word may be the best decision you could ever make!   Be like the smart carpenter and build everything in your life on a firm foundation and you will succeed!    

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.        Joshua 1:8