Editorial April 20, 1987 Issue

Understanding and doing rightly—the basis for spiritual building

Carolyn B. Swan

Christ Jesus understood the importance of building a house on a proper foundation. He used this knowledge when he explained what is needed as a basis for building a Christian life. He said: "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them ...: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock."

The remainder of the parable stresses this practice of divine precepts by adding, "He that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth."^{Luke 6:47-49.}

The doing that Jesus recommended—doing based on spiritual understanding—is the most sacred of activities. Unlike merely humanistic efforts, truly Christian practice effects thorough restoration of health and morals. It has a higher aim than the improvement of outward conditions, as is evident from our Master's teaching. For example, he once commended the Scriptural statement "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." He reminded the lawyer who had quoted it, "This do, and thou shalt live."^{Luke 10:27, 28.}

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Understanding and doing rightly—the basis for spiritual building

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