The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has charged the Ga West Presbytery to be wise builders who ground their lives in obedience to Christ.
Preaching at the induction of Rev. David Sowateye Obli as the third Chairperson of the Ga West Presbytery at the Kaneshie Congregation on Sunday, the Moderator said Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders is not a lesson for unbelievers but a direct message to church members, “those who come to church, listen to sermons, and admire preaching.”
Quoting Matthew 7:24–27, he explained that Jesus divides listeners into two groups: wise listeners who hear and obey, and foolish listeners who hear but do nothing. He situated the parable within the broader Sermon on the Mount, noting that Jesus’ teachings on anger, prayer, giving, relationships, judgment, anxiety, and righteousness all culminate in a call to action.
“Listening is good,” he said, “but listening alone is not enough. The difference between the wise and the foolish is not in hearing, but in doing.”
Drawing on first‑century building practices, the Moderator explained that wise builders in Palestine dug deep until they reached bedrock, while others built on hardened summer sand that looked stable but collapsed under storms.
He stressed that storms; life’s pressures, trials, and crises; are inevitable, and only those whose lives are founded on Christ the Rock will stand. He referenced 1 Corinthians 10, reminding the congregation that “the Rock that accompanied Israel was Christ.”
The Moderator warned against false indicators of spiritual stability such as regular attendance, being known by ministers, holding church offices, or leading ministries. “All these are good,” he said, “but they are not the foundation. The foundation is obedience to the Word.”
He cited James 1:22–24, urging the Presbytery not to become hearers who forget what they look like after seeing themselves in a mirror. True blessing, he said, belongs to those who continue in obedience.
As Rev. Obli begins his tenure, the Moderator called on Ga West to build on the foundation already laid,not through activity alone, but through deep discipleship, Scripture reading, and faithful practice of Christ’s teachings. He urged members to examine their lives at home, work, and in the community, asking whether they are building wisely or foolishly.
He ended with a charge: “Choose for yourself what you want to be, and I urge you to be a wise builder.”
