When sharing the words of Jesus about the wise man who was likened to be as the one who built his house upon the rock and the foolish man who was likened to be as the the one who built his house upon the sand, with Reuben, our beloved 4-year old son, I was telling him that merely listening to the words of Jesus is insufficient; we must also obey (do) them. For failing to do so will result in a structure that will collapse when the winds and waves of this world buffet against us.

If we were to ask ourselves, as to whether we are wise or a fool, what is going to be our most likely answer? This question to some may even seem  rude, so let me ask you the same question in a different way. How many of us listen to the word of God and follow and do what He requires of us to? We must not only hear, we must also do! Easier said than done, but the good news is that it is not by our own might, nor by or power, nor by our own strength, but by the Holy Spirit of God that we can be obedient to what God requires of each one of us. (Zechariah 4:6)

But what does it mean to say that we must not only listen but also do? This means that our faith is to be exercised. How is that so? Faith comes by hearing the word of God. So when we listen (hear), we receive faith, but what good is faith if it does not produce any fruit? In order for faith to produce fruit, it must be put into action (do). In fact, the scripture is very clear that “faith without works” is dead. In other words, “hearing without doing” is dead and the dead don’t stand. It is only those who put their faith into action; the wise; the living that can stand up against the pressures of this world.

Let us not merely listen, but let us also do!

Matthew 7:24-27 (KJV)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.