The Wise and the Foolish Builder- To Build House on Rock or Sand

Scripture passage: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Two Builders

In Judea, and in all countries in the neighborhood, the rain sometimes falls in great torrents, producing rivers, which sweep away the soil from the rocky hills. Torrential rains can turn dry valleys (wadis) into raging torrents. Houses, which are built of bricks only dried in the sun, of which there are whole villages in the east, literally melt away during these rains. This parable of Jesus concerns a wise man and a foolish man. One built his house on rock; the other built his house on sand. The difference in their houses was the foundations. Both men faced life’s difficulties…“The rain came down, the streams rose, the winds blew.” The house built on the rock stood. The house built on the sand “fell with a great crash.” Only storms reveal the quality of the work of the two builders. The point is that the wise person builds to withstand anything.

There are three general kinds of trials to which the followers of God are exposed.

I.             First, those of temporal afflictions, coming in the course of Divine Providence. These may be likened to the torrents of rain.

II.            Secondly, those which come from the passions of men, and which may be likened to the impetuous rivers.

III.           Thirdly, those which come from Satan and his angels, and which, like tempestuous whirlwinds, threaten to carry everything before them.

He alone, whose soul is built on the Rock of ages, stands all these shocks; and not only stands in, but profits by them. He alone, whose soul is built on the Rock of ages, can stand all the shocks, the turbulence, and the trials of life. He will not only overcome but profit by them.

Jesus is illustrating that we can live wisely or foolishly. It depends on where we lay our foundation. A wise person represents those who put Jesus' words into practice; they are building to withstand anything. Those who pretend to have faith, or have a merely intellectual commitment, are foolish builders. When the storms of life come, their structures fool no one, above all, not God.

The ‘Fool’ in the Scripture

The word Jesus used for the wise builder is not the word for philosophical wisdom; rather, it is the word for practical wisdom. It is synonymous with thoughtfulness, careful planning, and common sense. The term for the foolish builder means “dull.” We get our English word “moron” from this word. It is an insulting term.

In the Old Testament, “fool” indicates moral deficiency rather than intellectual deficiency. The fool who says in his heart, “There is no God,” has shut God out of his life (Psalm 14:1). Such a person is twisted that he or she is open neither to reason nor God. The "fool" is neither ignorant nor an atheist. The word is synonymous with the wicked, who aggressively and intentionally flouts his independence from God and his commandments. The fool in his heart denies the practical import of God's existence. He shuts off the affairs of this world from divine intervention and denies any personal accountability to God for his actions. Within the congregation, he may mimic the sounds of faith, but his true self shows disregard for God and his commandments. In the New Testament, “fool” portrays a person who lacks understanding because he or she has not adequately taken God into account. Christians can be foolish if they fail to evaluate life’s issues from God’s perspective.

Storms of Life Reveal the Difference

Before the storms came the two houses looked identical.  They may have both been attractive, spacious, and comfortable.  On the surface, you couldn't really tell which house was built on the sand and which was secured deep in the rock.  It was only when the storms hit that you could see the difference in the homes.

We can't tell who is genuine in their faith and who is not until the time of trial comes.  Everybody sounds like a believer when times are good. True faith comes when we are called to trust him in the dark. The person who has a deep, secure foundation always trusts God, relies on God, looks beyond the present to the eternal glory, and runs to God rather than away from him.

Everyone is Building Their Life

This parable conveys the demand for radical submission to the exclusive lordship of Jesus, who fulfills the Law and the Prophets. It warns the disobedient that the alternative to total obedience, true righteousness, and life in the kingdom is defiance against God, a self-centered life, a lack of love for God and for others, and eternal damnation.

Talking about Christ, his righteousness, merits, and atonement, while the person is not obeying his word no more than dangerous self-deception. It is not the man who hears or believes the sayings of Christ, whose building shall stand, when the earth and its works are burnt up, but the man who does them solemnly.

Everyone is building their life on some kind of foundation.  There are only two choices: you either build on a solid and deep foundation or you build on a shallow and weak foundation. The picture is clear. You are either walking on God’s way, experiencing his transformation in your life, and knowing his strength for difficult times, or you are walking away from God, producing nothing of eternal value, and are vulnerable to the storms that may come your way.

Be Anchored to the Rock of Salvation

Are you the wise builder or the foolish builder? You are not born foolish or wise when it comes to laying the foundation of your life. When laying the foundation of your life it’s your decision on whether to lay it on loose and unstable sand or on secured and unshakable rock.

A wise or prudent man is a man of sense and understanding, who, foreseeing the evil, hides himself and makes use of the proper means to accomplish the best end. True wisdom consists in getting the building of our salvation completed. We must build on the Rock, Christ Jesus, and make the building firm by keeping close to the teachings of His Gospel. Our tempers and lives must conform to his Gospel in word and spirit. We must lean on nothing but the grace of Christ and only then can we build upon a solid rock.

Selie Visa