Matthew 7:24-27

The 10 Feet Foundation

The leaning tower of Pisa, Italy was constructed on clay soil and a 10 feet foundation for the seven-floor building was laid. Even before the construction of the building was complete it started leaning on one side. The faulty foundation has resulted in years and years of renovations. Today many marriages, businesses and even lives are cut short before their prime years because of faulty foundations. People have believed that financial security is the foundation on which life should be built. They have forgotten that as long as you are chasing to make ends meet, you will always be preoccupied with the things of this world and resultantly the need will remain insatiable. There will be a shinier item than what you are holding at the moment. Let us look at the important aspects to consider when building a house.

Building a House

A man must first sit and count the cost involved in building a house before even starting (Luke 14:28). He then will hire professionals to advise on every step so as to avoid building haphazardly. Then this is when the builder will realise that it is not the building materials nor the hands involved that are the most prized step of building. If the foundation fails then the house will follow suit. The wise builder digs deep until he reaches the bedrock and then he starts the building. I have seen half the budget of building a house spent on the foundation. The taller the house is the deeper the foundation. Jesus describes this wise builder as one who listened and obeyed. The rock builder understands that Jesus’ words alone are able to build a strong house. When the word of God warns them they keep off and follow in the direction He leads them.

The Foolish Builder

This short parable seems to present two completely different people. But both of them heard the words of Jesus, both built houses, both built in the same location hence the storm and they built similar houses. A passerby could not tell whose house is whose. Their differences are seen after the storm came. Proverbs 24:10 writes “if you fail on the day of battle then your strength is small. This is what happened to the foolish builder.” The only difference between the two houses was the foundation.

The foolish builder built his house with very little preparation. He followed none of the words of Jesus. Jesus taught this parable after the sermon on the mount to highlight its application in our lives. Some of us are represented by the foolish builder. We have built big buildings in our lives without following the words of God. And when the storms of life vehemently beat our structures they fail and are carried away like a house built on sand. Building on Jesus our rock of ages requires commitment and obedience. You can be in church for many years and still go to hell, be baptized and still perish. Yet those who have built their lives on faith in Jesus and His resurrection, their houses will stand and be saved (Romans 10:13).

Please visit our store for merchandise that has been designed and created specifically for this scripture. Any purchases help us to maintain and grow 316 Quotes.

King James Version (KJV)

“Therefore 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.”

New International Version (NIV)

“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.”

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

New American Bible (NASB)

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

The Living Bible (TLB)

“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock. But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash.”