By E. L. Thornton

1 Cor 3:12-14
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

(READ THE STORY OF “THE THREE LITTLE PIGS”)

I would like to know what all the controversy over prayer, and other things, in our public schools is about. What are people fighting against when they are against the teaching of good moral standards, honesty, and integrity? These people that are fighting against prayer in schools, fail to realize that the laws of our great country are based and founded on the good word of God, the Bible. We know it’s wrong to kill because the Bible tells us it’s wrong. We know it’s wrong to steal because the Bible teaches us that it’s wrong. Long before there were the laws of the U.S., there was the Laws of God. God punished Cain because of murder, long before the laws of man.

All the standards of living, that we have been taught, came from scripture. What about the story of the boy that told lies, and everytime he told a lie his nose grew longer. This story, although very fictieous, taught us that it was wrong to lie. Didn’t I read somewhere in the book that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.

There’s the family, that was very poor, that were told that they could have three wishes. The husband, one morning sat down to breakfast, and as he was eating just casually wished for some sausage to go with his syrup. And his wish was granted. His wife, realizing that he had wasted one of their wishes, wished that they would grow on his nose. Her wish was granted. Finally the story ends with the wife wishing them off his nose. Teaching us that we should be careful in making decisions.

What about the little work train, that said “I think I can”. Paul said I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengtheneth me.

Yes the story of the three little pigs gets its thought from the scripture. Early in life we began to build a house. Not a house that can be walked into, but a house of character, a house of principles.

The scriptures, that I have used for a text, mentions six (6) materials with which to build a house. But upon close scrutiny, I find, that most of these materials listed are not suitable for building a house. So I think the writer is trying to relay a deeper meaning, or trying to get us to understand a spiritual meaning.

I would like to point your attention to some scriptures that should concern us about the kind of house we’re building……….
1 Cor 3:16-17
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Cor 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2 Cor 6:16-18
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Eph 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1 Pet 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

You are building some kind of house. It may be a dive of evil were Satan lives, are it may be a sancutary were God dewells, but you are building a house.

Far too many, in our world today, are building with temporal things.

They take the hay and stubble of life and try to build a future on things that will not last, but will fall at the mention of trouble. The Gold, Silver and precious stones, are good to look at, but, my friends, we need to build with materials that will stand the storm or the fire. The wolf, storm, or the fire will come, you can be sure of it.

I. SOME ARE BUILDING WITH THINGS OF THIS LIFE:

Matt 19:16-22
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

It is very easy to see where this mans affections were. His affections were toward the things of life.

Col 3:2
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

II. SOME BUILD ON PLEASURE:

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is found in Pauls writings in—–

2 Tim 4:9-10
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

When Demas came to Paul, logic should tell us, he knew that Paul was hounded by persecution. In embracing Pauls teaching, and Christianity, he knew that Paul was going to be a martyr for the sake of Christ. So, you know, that he
didn’t make his choice with any insincerity. What I’m trying to say is, Demas was not afraid of the perils which surrounded the life of Paul.

It was not persecution that destroyed Demas. It was not fear that destroyed Demas. He loved God to a certain extent. He was willing to be branded as one of them. He was willing to suffer hardship, He was willing to look danger in the face.

It wasn’t any of these things that destroyed Demas, but what destroyed Demas was a love for the world. It seems that he never received complete victory over his love for the world. It is the devils most successful device against those
who would live Godly. Worldliness.

What ruined Lot’s wife—-the world. What ruined Achan—-the world. What ruined Haman—-the world. What ruined Judas—-the world. What ruined Demas—-the world. If you love your soul, beware of the world. It has slain its thousands and ten thousands.

In Brazil there grows a common plant, which is called “the Matador”. Its slender stem creeps at first along the ground; but no sooner does it meet a vigorous tree than, with clinging grasp, it cleaves to it, and climbs it, and, as it
climbs, keeps at short intervals sending out arm-like shoots that embrace the tree.

As the murderer ascends, these shoots grow larger and larger, and clasp tighter. Up, up, it climbs until the loftiest leaf is gained and fettered. Then, as if in triumph, the parasite shoots a huge, flowery head above the strangled summit, and there, from the dead tree’s crown, scatters its deadly seed to do again the work of death. That’s it, worldliness has strangled more Churches than persecution ever broke. Beware of the world.

Mark 8:36-37
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

So what kind of house are you building and what are you building with?