Fools Have a Hard Head that Invites a Soft Behind
“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: 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.” - Matthew 7:26-27 (KJV)
When I was a young man growing up parents had a way with words that burned in your mind and heart. Sayings like, “God does not like ugly,” “Birds of a feather flock together” and “The grass is not always greener on the other side” were common colloquialisms of the day. However, there was one expression that still burns in my mind: "A hard head makes a soft behind!" Perhaps this phrase is perpetuated in my conscious because I remember that it was connected with my butt being burned for not listening to my parents and choosing to run in the fast lane of foolishness.
In a similar vein, our text also turns our attention to a hard-headed fool who is set to get a soft behind because of his stubborn and insolent heart. His foolishness causes him to situate himself on soft soil or sand. Here is the truth about a fool regardless of age, gender, marital status, ethnic group, education or financial status: The fool will not listen or respect the word of the Lord. He (or she) will distort and twist the truth to get his way because he is arrogant and angry with the ways of the Lord. This attitude is compounded by the fact that a fool also exercises excessive talk and is too enamored with his mouth to receive instructions from anyone else. Listen to what the Scriptures have to say about a foolish person:
“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.” - Proverbs 19:3 (KJV)
“The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” - Proverbs 10:8 (KJV)
Our Lord simply states that it is an act of stupidity when we select to silence His voice and stand in stubbornness. Instead of establishing a house on the Rock of Jesus Christ, a fool builds a house with sticks made with self-autonomy, cement of contempt for the truth, a paper roof of rebellion and footings of falsehood that stand on sinking sand. So when the storms of life unleash their mercilessly and malevolent rain and wind on the fools house, his faulty foundation will dump him in devastation. All fools will feast on their folly!
The good news is that those who hear and obey the word of our Lord are able to sing from the soul of our hearts:
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other Ground is sinking sand.
Remember to purpose to obey the Lord today because the storms are coming your way!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR