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Laying a Solid Foundation for Life – Part B
Song: 1. We our thanks to the Lord 2. We our praise to the Lord Introduction In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ emphasised on the need for wisdom, planning and vigilance in life if we must succeed: Matthew 25:1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins 1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. From the parable of the ten virgins, we may observe, a. Their different character, with the proof and evidence of it. b. Their character was that five were wise, and five foolish (Matthew25:2); and “wisdom excelled folly, as far as light excelled darkness”; so said Solomon, a competent judge, (Ecclesiastes 2:13). In the gospel of Luke 14: 25-33 Jesus did mince word in saying that before anyone can be an effective disciple, he/she must carry the cross – ready to pay the price. He linked this to the need for effective planning before one embarks on a project in life. Note, Those of the same profession and denomination among men, may yet be of characters vastly different in the sight of God. Sincere Christians are the wise virgins, and hypocrites the foolish ones, as in another parable they are represented by wise and foolish builders (Luke 14:25-33). True religion is true wisdom; sin is folly, but especially the sin of hypocrisy, for those are the greatest fools, that are wise in their own conceit,“The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.” (Proverbs 28:11 ). “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21). And those the worst of sinners, that feign themselves just men (pretended to be honest) Luke 20:20. To be religious is to be wise; this is a thing to which it is necessary that we apply our hearts, and the matter requires and deserves a close application, to which frequent thoughts of the uncertainty of our continuance here and the certainty of our removal hence, will very much contribute. In summary, we need to ask for wisdom from the Lord in whatever we want to do and we can be sure that he will guide us. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5). To be wise is to have or show experience, knowledge, good judgement and prudence in matters. We need wisdom to discern situations around us and act appropriately. Oh yes we need wisdom to understand God's leading and follow faithfully. Unfortunately, to many, it is easier to be wise after the event has happened, in other words when they have failed to see in advance. Wisdom is seeing in advance; understanding the future. However it is only when we fear and reverence God that we begin to be wise. God said to King Solomon after offering his sacrifice at Gibeon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."(1 Kings 3:5). King Solomon then was the new king of Israel and Judah and God knew the great tasks and responsibilities that were ahead of him. King Solomon responded, "…Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"(1 Kings 3:7-9). The scripture records that the Lord was with King Solomon's request and said, "… I will do what you have asked. I will give you a WISE and DISCERNING HEART so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be…" (1 Kings 3:11-15). When you read through the whole text, you will discover that God added many more things that King Solomon did not request for. I pray that God will be pleased always with the kind of request with make daily. Wisdom comes with every other good thing you can think about - health, blessings, prosperity, intelligence, success, wonderful opportunities, breakthroughs and more. "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved." (Jeremiah 8:20). In the book of Proverbs 30:24-28, "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise, a. Proverbs 30:25, ANTS are creatures of little power, yet they store up their food in the summer" , may God help us to be industrious like ant and be wise to save for tomorrow. May we make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. Oh God make us wise for futurity. 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. b. Proverbs 30:26 CONNIES/ROCK-BADGERS are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags/rocks." May God give us the wisdom to use whatever we have to build a solid foundation that cannot be shaken. c. Proverbs 30:27 LOCUST have no king, yet they advance together in ranks." In unity lies our strength, may we remain united to both God and man; so that God's grace will continue to flow in us. Unity in the Body of Christ 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6). “It is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) d. Proverbs 30:28 LIZARD, can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in Kings' palaces." May God give us the wisdom to know that the house of success is built on the foundation of determination, diligence and discipline. 1. Be industrious like an ant And ant as you know is very vulnerable. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; 7 It has no commander, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10). “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24). "A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD's work! A curse on him who keeps his sword from bloodshed!” (Jeremiah 48:10). Ants use its burden to lay a bridge, our problems should not weigh us down. What do we do with stones (criticisms, trials, etc) thrown at us? Dodge it? Throw it back? We should use them to build our foundation. 2. Be tenacious like the rock badgers Tenacious – holding tightly, refusing to let go. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Genesis 32:26). 2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, 3 For you have been my refuge, 4 I long to dwell in your tent forever “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, 31 but those who hope in the LORD "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10). “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63). 3. Be disciplined and like united like the locust United we stand but divided we fall – the biblical tower of Babel in Genesis 11: 1-9 fell among other reasons because of disunity. Discipline is having a sense of denial and control, carrying out your duty in life as demanded and not as convenient. “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7). You must have unhealthy and unnecessary competition and reckless borrowing. The house of success is built on the foundation of determination, diligence and discipline. i. Unity with God, by keeping his commands “In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.” (1 John 4:17). To accept Christ is to know the meaning of the words, ‘as He is, so are we in this present world.’ We accept His friends as our friends, His enemies as our enemies, His ways as our ways, His rejection as our rejection, His cross as our cross, His life as our life, and His future as our future. ii. Unity in our families “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7). “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). iii. Unity in our Churches/fellowships “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6). “ 10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). 1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? 5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:1-9). 4. Persevere like the lizard Perseverance is constant effort and steadfastness. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. 46But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." 47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." (Luke 8:43-48). 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Mark 2:2-12). “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). 5 “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6). "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10). Never admit failure until you have made your last attempt. Never make your last attempt until you have succeeded. Charles H. Spurgeon said: ‘By perseverance the snail reached the Ark.’ God Bless You Evang. John Bamidele Oseh |