XX The Parable of the Two Builders
The Lord Jesus taught the people numbers of lessons about Himself, or His Heavenly Father, or about the Kingdom of Heaven, by drawing word-pictures: and we can learn the deepest truths that concern ourselves by reading them and thinking about them.
One of these that I am very fond of is a picture of two builders, and what became of the results of their building.
The first man was a wise man. He looked about him to find a sure and suitable foundation, and he built his house on a firm rock.
By and by bad weather came, and the rain poured down and the floods came and beat upon the house, but it stood firm, for it was founded upon a rock.
Our Lord Himself not only gives us the picture, but He gives us the explanation of this story first of all.
He says: “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Here were two men: they had heard that it was a wise thing to have a house to live in, and they both decided that they would begin at once to build.
The wise man thought it all over, and considered what ground would be suitable, what foundation would outlive the storms, and he decided it must be upon a rock, which stood high above the rivers, and was strong and enduring.
But the other man was careless. There was, perhaps, a pleasant spot nearer to him. The materials with which to build were easily carried to that spot, the sunshine flooded the landscape, and all looked fair and beautiful. So he hastened to build upon the sandy foundation, and soon his house was finished and he took possession.
But in that country there were frequently sudden violent storms; and one day such a storm overtook the two houses. The rain came in torrents, the winds blew, and they beat upon those two houses.
And because the foundation was unstable the house upon the sand began to slip and shake, and by and by cracked open, and fell to pieces, and lay in a ruin beneath the rushing flood.
And the house on the rock? Calm amidst the storm it stood firm. The rain came, and the wind blew and the floods rose, but it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock!
Do you want to know how this story affects our lives?
Do you want to answer that question which perhaps rises up in the depths of your own heart: What am I building up out of my life? And what foundation am I building upon?
There is a verse which tells us very distinctly the answer to that question, if we are asking it in our hearts—
“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
If we come to Him, ask Him to take us just as we are—weak, sinful, unworthy—He will stretch forth His hand and grasp us, and “set our feet upon a Rock and establish our goings.”
When once we have come to Christ for pardon, our feet are on the Rock: and then we can begin to build.
You ask what is building?
To do each day what will please Jesus. As He says when He begins this story of the Two Builders: “To hear these sayings of His and to do them,” is the sure way of having a building that will last when the storms of life overtake us.
If you watch the people who bear trouble the best, who are patient in trial, hopeful in adversity, brave in difficulty, triumphant in death, you will find that it is they who have built on the Rock Jesus Christ, and have found that there is security and peace there.
And then about the house on the sand?
Oh, what desolation to find that what you thought was all pleasant and bright will not last, but the insecure foundation melts away, and the hopes founded upon it fall to pieces.
If you have even a misgiving that you are not on the true Foundation, give up your earthly plans and make a fresh start.
The Arms of love and mercy are ready to embrace you, and one of those wonderful sayings of Jesus is: “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.”
“The Foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal: The Lord knoweth them that are His.”