The Two Builders: Jesus Teaches About Doing What God Wants

Jesus was famous! People came to see him for all kinds of reasons. Some were ill or in trouble, and they wanted his help. Some wanted to see him do exciting miracles. Some loved the powerful way he spoke. They all heard what he said - but were they really listening?

"So why do you call me 'Lord' when you won't obey me?" Jesus asked. Then he told this parable.

Two men each wanted to build a house. The first man was in a hurry - he wanted it to be easy. He found a flat, sandy spot. He didn't bother with any digging, he built the walls straight onto the sand. The house was quickly built.

The second man wanted his house to last. He chose a place where the ground was hard. He dug deep foundation trenches for his walls, so that they were built straight onto the strong rock beneath the soil. It was a lot of hard work, and it took a long time - but the house was very strong.

Suddenly, a great storm came. Strong winds blew, and it rained so hard that flood waters swept across the land.

The house built on the rock stood firm, but the house built on sand crumbled into a heap of ruins.

Jesus said, "Anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it, is foolish, like a person who build a house on sand. Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock."

You can find this story in the Bible. Read it for yourself in The Bible, Matthew chapter 7 verses 24 - 28 or Luke chapter 6 verses 46 - 49.