I don't think we needed the distinction of having the world's tallest building. I do, however, regretfully agree that cities have to go up. The spread of cities over more and more qgricultural land represents poor planning for future generations. It happens so slowly - but sometime the red flag has to be waved.
Taller buildings mean more attention to foundations. You can't take a present building and add a further twenty stories - the foundations would not be adequate. The engineers have to do their calculations and tests and get it right the first time. It is a tragedy when a poorly built house collapses. It would be a disaster if a sixty-storey building fell.
In Jesus' time foundations were important too. The more familiar version of this saying of Jesus is in Matthew at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. There we find an additional element - the question of where the house is built. To build on the sand, on the flood plain, is to invite trouble - and even more so if you haven't dug proper foundations.
Here in Luke we have this saying at the end of what is called the Sermon on the Plain. The second man cuts his costs on foundations and is therefore able to produce a more imposing building. But it is a weaker building, not able to withstand the testing of the torrents.
The whole point of the parable is whether we hear the words of Jesus and do them. Can't you picture the crowd of people around Jesus? Lord, tell us another story? Lord, I need your help. Lord, did you hear about old Ezra the carpenter? Lord, I like what you say! Lord, thank you for answering my questions! And Jesus cuts across it all and says, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"
Doing what he says is the foundation. Not association with him, but faith in him. There are too many short-cut disciples. Their lives may appear impressive, but they fail at the point of obedience and that failure is evident in the time of testing.
How do we build our lives on the sure foundation?
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