In case you’re wondering, there are floods on the Mississippi River just north of where I live in the St Louis area.  We are fortunate in that the flooding was only along the Mississippi River.  The Illinois River and Missouri River all converge just north of St Louis.  It is the massive sizes of those rivers that are absorbing some of the additional water flowing down from Iowa where the flooding is worse than anything in a hundred years or more.

In Iowa, people’s homes are flooded.  The water is up to the eaves of the houses – or more.  Some houses have simply been swept away.  Who can forget the video of the house at the bridge where the roof is ripped off and the former home becomes a floating pile of wooden splinters just past the bridge?

It reminded me of a story that Jesus told.  We read in Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 6:

 46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

A couple of things struck me as interesting in Jesus story.  The obvious is that the foundation must be solid but the parallels go deeper.

First, you must “build the house.”  Too many times people try to flit about from one thing to the next.  They do not sink roots into anything.  There is a temptation to go it alone – “just you and me, God!”  That isn’t building the house.  It’s pitching a tent.  And if the house is swept away, well, so much worse for the tent.  There must be an effort to sink roots into something.  That something must be what strengthens us and builds us up.  It is God’s Word first and foremost.

Second, building a house can take time but goes much faster with skilled laborers and many of them.  Take time to learn from others who have been there.  Building the house, even with a good foundation does not keep the house in place until the roof is on.  Get help from Biblical scholars, teachers and preachers – and from those who you trust and admire in their spiritual walk.  They are the skilled laborers.  Let them help.  The roof gets on faster and the house becomes secure sooner.

Third, get good construction material.  Just like the laborers help, good materials help as well.  These can be study guides, devotionals, or prayer.  Talk with the Master Builder.  Who else can give you the best advice?

Finally, look for a piece of land that is NOT in the flood plain.  Unless you are a skilled builder and have much experience in flood-proofing, even the house that did not get washed away will suffer flood damage.  Repair and clean-up will take much effort and energy.  In spiritual terms, it could be devastating.  A house is not built in a battlefield. 
God will protect us – but not from stupidity.  Jesus also tells us that we are to plan our actions carefully before jumping into them.

Luke 14:  28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

Build the foundation on solid rock, with as much help as you can get, from as many skilled people as possible, as quickly as you can, in a safe place. 

Then help others.