Foundations and Good and Evil Men
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” —Luke 6:45, NIV.
What’s that old saying? Who can fool all of the people all of the time, or some of the people all of the time, or none of the people all of the time?
Luke reminds us that sooner or later the true character of a man will show itself. Oddly enough the verses that precede this announcement tell us that we shouldn’t judge. We are also reminded that we are certainly not to try to correct anyone else’s faults until we have taken care of our own.
Perhaps the lesson is this: Don’t judge, wait a while. Evil will show itself eventually without you saying one single word.
In the earlier verses the person who has the “speck of sawdust” (vs. 41) is referred to as a “brother,” a believer. In our verses for today there is a clear distinction between the “good” man and the “evil” one, leading us to believe that Luke is speaking about the difference between believers and unbelievers.
Other Scriptures tell us that a “good” man, when rebuked for his sin, will respond positively. One who does not respond well to correction is to be treated as an unbeliever—in other words, we are to work toward that person’s salvation (Matthew 18:17). The assumption is that a good man will want to make things right.
Once more character will win out.
The Lord completes His teaching by telling the tale of the two men who built homes; one on a solid foundation, the other on sand. The good man has built his spiritual life on the immoveable Rock which is Christ—his house, his deeds, his thoughts, his words, will reflect Christ. The evil man when tested, will reveal his true character because his foundation, though it may resist for a while, is sure to collapse under him sooner or later.
The storm always reveals the strength, and the weakness, of any construction and the character of the builder.
What’s that old saying? Who can fool all of the people all of the time, or some of the people all of the time, or none of the people all of the time?
Luke reminds us that sooner or later the true character of a man will show itself. Oddly enough the verses that precede this announcement tell us that we shouldn’t judge. We are also reminded that we are certainly not to try to correct anyone else’s faults until we have taken care of our own.
Perhaps the lesson is this: Don’t judge, wait a while. Evil will show itself eventually without you saying one single word.
In the earlier verses the person who has the “speck of sawdust” (vs. 41) is referred to as a “brother,” a believer. In our verses for today there is a clear distinction between the “good” man and the “evil” one, leading us to believe that Luke is speaking about the difference between believers and unbelievers.
Other Scriptures tell us that a “good” man, when rebuked for his sin, will respond positively. One who does not respond well to correction is to be treated as an unbeliever—in other words, we are to work toward that person’s salvation (Matthew 18:17). The assumption is that a good man will want to make things right.
Once more character will win out.
The Lord completes His teaching by telling the tale of the two men who built homes; one on a solid foundation, the other on sand. The good man has built his spiritual life on the immoveable Rock which is Christ—his house, his deeds, his thoughts, his words, will reflect Christ. The evil man when tested, will reveal his true character because his foundation, though it may resist for a while, is sure to collapse under him sooner or later.
The storm always reveals the strength, and the weakness, of any construction and the character of the builder.
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