13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-29
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The Well Off find their strength in Jesus’ words, not their own show.
Narrow Way
The warnings Jesus gives at the end of the Sermon on the Mount is most often used to prove how the religious have the narrow path down.
Ironically, Jesus uses these parables to show how the religious weren’t on the narrow path.
Instead, Jesus tells us The Well Off is a path very few want to go down because it requires them to buck everything they have inside of them. Have everything figured out. Demean others to get what you want. Make a show of following God.
Leaders want to forget their own way. This is what brings independence and strength. And yet, The Well Off is a life not everyone is willing to live.
Good Fruit
Just because you do many works in Jesus’ name doesn’t mean you are on the path.
I’ve never accomplished the works Jesus listed that won’t get you in the Kingdom. But others will accomplish them and won’t get in.
That’s frightening.
Except that Jesus points out what the difference is. The difference is…
Knowing God.
Leaders want to do. Doing isn’t bad. But doing will never get you into God’s Kingdom.
Entrance into God’s Kingdom is not dependent upon what you do.
Entrance into God’s Kingdom is based on knowing the Father.
Strong Houses
Knowing the Father leads us to Hear and Follow the words of Jesus. When we do, our house…our life…will be build upon a solid foundation. A foundation that will withstand anything the world can throw at it.
The Well Off live a life everyone else is envious of. A life that withstands all the pressures of the world and yet stays strong. Not because of their own strength. Not because they have it all figured out. But because they know the One who has all the strength needed. Because they know the One who does have everything figured out.
And they welcome their own weaknesses so that the Father’s strength can live through them.
Prayer: God, give me the strength to Hear & Follow you and the strength that comes with Hearing & Following you.
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