Dear brothers and sisters in Christ –
You would have to be a fool to have not heard about the burning of Notre Dame.
And that got me to remembering and thinking of the Disney Animated Feature — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” I have seen the movie many times, and watched the stage show at Disney World many times more. Immediately the songs fill my mind — serious and emotional songs like “God Help the Outcasts” and “Out There,” as well as a fun and silly song like “Topsy Turvy” sung during the Feast of Fools.
On two separate occasions, Jesus used the word foolish to describe man’s thoughts and actions.
Could God be calling us foolish as well?
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus said there are two kinds of people. There are those who hear what Jesus says and respond to His ways and wisdom. Sadly, there are others who hear His words but, like the foolish man, fail to put them into practice.
The people who reject His words are like people who build their houses on sand. We all know what happens to houses built on sand.
Too often, we’ve seen lives crumble when adversity strikes, because there has been no foundation of faith and discipline. Just as concrete supports houses, God’s Word, when received and applied in our lives, supports and strengthens us.
Jesus said those who hear and obey His Word will keep their footing when the storms of life assail them (Matthew 7:24).
The second reference to Jesus’ calling man foolish is the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13- 21). Because he reaped such a bountiful crop, the wealthy farmer tore down his existing barns to build bigger ones to store his produce.
Jesus didn’t call him foolish because he built bigger barns, but because he gave God no credit for his success. The Rich Fool saw his wealth as his own. Jesus said, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Verse 20).
In both cases of foolishness, the men Jesus called fools ignored God and did things their own way. We are just as foolish if we don’t put God’s Word into practice and fail to acknowledge Him as the source of all things.
We will live shallow, self-centered, foolish lives rather than rich, God-centered, faithful lives.
If we follow and serve Jesus, we won’t hear Him call us foolish,
but we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23).
Easter Blessings,
Pastor Hartwig