What do you do when the storm comes?

Tragedy is going to happen to everyone!  Whether we like it or not, our life will be rocked with some sort of misfortune at some point.  Jesus never promised us a rose garden, though.  Instead, He said that there will be times of tribulation and difficulty.  So, when those times come I think it’s only fair to ask this question, “How do we handle the storms?”

Now, Jesus gives us an interesting parable found in Matthew 7:24-27 about two different types of men…one wise and one foolish.  One who built his house on the rock and the other who built his house on the sand.  In Jesus own words He refers to the fact that storms are going to come.  Not that they might come or could come, but that they WILL come.  Jesus never defended the possibility of storms, He just asked us to be ready when they get here.

Many years (1991) ago, I was youth pastoring in Laurel, MS, for the summer.  I was serving under one of the most Godly pastors I’d ever met…Rev. Jon Betz.  As was his custom, he took a mid-summer vacation and decided to leave me in charge for the week.  I was 22 years old and thought I knew everything about ministry, boy was I in for a shock!

The very first day Pastor Betz was gone I received a phone call in the middle of the night with someone frantically screaming.  As I worked through the tears and hysteria, I finally understood what this person was trying to say.  The 24 yr. old son of a lady in our church had stuck a gun to his head and ended his life.  The problem was to even get more complicated for me.  I had to tell her!

Now, I must admit my education at Southern Wesleyan University was a good one…but I don’t think any amount of education would’ve ever really prepared me for a moment like that.  It was a life moment that only experience could produce.  I was face to face with having to minister to someone who’d been catapulted into the center of a terrible storm.  What was I going to do?  Better yet, what was this mother and church member going to do?  This would show our metal.

Not every storm is as devastating as this one, but they’re storms nonetheless.  For many of us a storm could be financial, emotional, or even physical, but they always have to be confronted in one way or the other.  How are you doing at handling the storm?  Are you blaming God?  Are you bitter?

Well, believe it or not, this parable instructs us that in order to make it through the storm we must build our house on the proper foundation.  You see, some people build on sand while others build on THE ROCK.  How do you build on the rock?  Jesus, in this passage refers to people who put His words into practice as those who are building on the rock.  So, the million dollar question is this, “Are we practicing the words of Christ?”

How do I know if I’m practicing His words?  A few possible answers:

1.  When you value your relationship with Christ.  Do you pray?  Do you read the Bible?  Do you go to church?  These are all things that cultivate a relationship with Jesus.  These are also things that He commanded us to do.  So, if I say that I love someone and continually disregard their feelings or requests…do I love them?  Try that with your spouse?  Probably will not go over very well!

2.  When you serve people.  The key here is LOVE.  It’s very difficult to serve people when you don’t love them.  I guess you could probably do it out of obligation, but eventually people see right through you.  There’s nothing worse, I suppose, than unauthentic service.  It’s hypocrisy at its best.

One more thing regarding serving people.  When we serve people, we serve Christ.  When we do not serve people, we do not serve Christ.  As a matter of fact, Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  Think about that!  When I or you neglect to serve anyone, then we have in essence neglected to serve Christ.  Pretty sobering, isn’t it?  God help us!

How’s your foundation?  Is it being built on the rock of Jesus?  The only true way to determine the success of one’s foundation is to go through the storm.  It is only during the storm when we realize what we’re made of.  So, my challenge to you today is to reevaluate your building codes.  Ask yourself, “Am I building on the right surface?”  If not, it’s never too late to start.

Have a great day!  See all you Common Grounders Sunday.  We’re gonna have an awesome Thanksgiving service!

Pastor Neal