Looking at this famous parable from a different dimension
I think you will struggle to find a Christian who has not heard this story:
Mat 7:24: “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.
Mat 7:25: 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.
Mat 7:26: 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.
Mat 7:27: The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The crux of the message is to highlight the importance of believers building themselves on a solid doctrine instead of one that is false and wobbly.
But I believe that this is not as black and white as it seems. In this parable, it seems as if Jesus is referring to Believers vs Non-Believers. Believers are always built on solid ground and listen to Messiah, whereas Non-Believers are doomed to live on shaky ground.
I believe that Jesus is also pointing this to believers and how some believers also have shaky doctrine. It all centers around the foundation of your faith.
Rock vs Sand
I think believers misunderstand this parable, as many people think that the characters in this parable are in two different places, with one builder trying to build a house on sand and one on top of a rock.
Logically none of these building methods are particularly good practice.
So if we look a bit further, into Luke's gospel, we get some clarity:
Luk 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Luk 6:47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.
Luk 6:48. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
Luk 6:49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
From above, the better interpretation of this parable is that two builders, at the same place, began to build a house. One person dug a foundation deep enough that it hit a rock, whilst the other dug a shallow foundation. Both houses are built on God, but beneath the surface, only one had a strong foundation in Christ.
Appearances Are Deceiving
From the outside, both houses would look the same. But the foundation is very different. I believe Jesus is talking to His followers - Make sure you dig a foundation and relationship with Me that is DEEP enough so you can withstand anything.
It is also quite evident whose foundation is deep enough as you can see the fruit-bearing from that individual.
Conclusion
Often a misunderstood parable, the story of two builders who built a house, one upon the sand and one upon a rock, is actually a story of one builder failing to dig a foundation deep enough to start building his house, whilst the other dug deeper, to rocks, and then began building his house. Both built their house on God, but one was not strong enough to withstand the troubles that came. The man with the foundation on the rock drew strength from it, whilst the other house with no solid foundation had no support.
Let us as a people in Christ go deeper with Him in a relationship, so we can draw our strength from Him. That way, whenever we try to build something up, whether it be a church or a business, we know that we have God as our solid foundation.
