After the top ten Old Testament stories, we are now looking at the top ten Parables. These stories are are so well known that we sometimes forget their simple message. At number 8 is The Two House Builders (I would have expected it to be higher).
The Wise and Foolish Builders
“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.”
I remember doing this experiment many years ago when I led a Sunday School class with a basin and sand and rocks. It is a very visual and so memorable parable.
It tells us that we should build our life on the teachings of Jesus. But it is true in everything in life, the foundations and our upbringing are important.