Jesus famously depicted two individuals whose lives differ significantly, one building upon a rock foundation while the other relies on sand for support.
This lesson utilizes an engaging STEM activity to help kids grasp the message of this parable. It shows that wise people base their lives upon obeying Christ’s instructions while foolish ones ignore these directives, leading to potentially disastrous results.
What is the parable about?
This parable illustrates the difference between two kinds of people: wise people have firm foundations while foolish ones do not; builders build houses accordingly with deep digs and solid rock foundations, while foolish builders grab whatever is available from around them. Living according to Christ’s teaching and building his house by doing good deeds, serving others, overcoming temptations, and studying the Bible allows wise individuals to withstand storms better while foolish men’s homes crumble under storm conditions.
Listening and acting upon Jesus’ words are likewise builders in that they won’t be shaken in hard times as long as their foundation rests upon biblical teachings. Conversely, those who disregard His words like foolish builders do so at their peril; even though they might appear strong now, in time their house of sand becomes nothing but rubble.
The wise builder
Every builder understands the importance of having a solid foundation before beginning the construction of any house, which is why Jesus mentioned being “the wise builder.” But what exactly did He mean by this statement?
A wise builder obeys God’s plan, pattern, instructions, and principles when building. They do not attempt to save time or money in the short term by cutting corners that could cause their house to crumble later.
He recognizes that life will bring storms of its own. Therefore, he plans for emergencies that might threaten any unprepared structures.
Two things will reveal whether we are wise builders: firstly, whether our marriages, homes, families, and businesses follow God’s plan or specifications; and secondly, whether God can be seen manifest in what we’ve created – otherwise it wouldn’t qualify as wise building! If this cannot be discerned then that means we aren’t.
The foolish builder
Every builder knows that to ensure a sound house foundation, building on sand would only lead to its eventual destruction by storms and waves. Therefore, wise builders took great pains in finding solid ground on which they can construct their homes.
When storms strike, wise builders’ houses remain standing while those constructed without regard for Christian teachings are completely destroyed. We can trust that our spiritual homes will withstand whatever storms might come our way!
The wise builder heard, understood, and was inspired by Jesus’ teachings. As a result, they took immediate steps to implement these teachings into their life – so when stormy times come along our faith remains unshakable. If we simply hear and comprehend Jesus’ words without taking any tangible steps forward we may find ourselves vulnerable when the storms of life hit.
The storm
Storms often serve as symbols for major changes that threaten to uproot everything they know in one’s life and set everything in motion, or represent anger that threatens to bubble to the surface and explode eventually. They’re frequently depicted in literature as symbols for something about to go terribly wrong – hence why storms have long been depicted as potency symbols.
Jesus illustrated this fact through a parable: the ultimate distinction between wise and foolish builders can only become evident during an extreme storm (rain, floods, rivers or winds). Those who take God seriously and heed his words stand firm as opposed to those who disregard or dismiss his words whose houses crumbled under pressure – likening wise builders with those who ignored or disobeyed His instructions as foolish builders who ultimately had their buildings collapse under its weight.
This story teaches children the value of building on solid ground to prepare them for emergencies that will arise. Furthermore, it shows us not to blame others when problems arise but instead focus on finding solutions to our issues – this can be achieved by gathering strength together and working out strategies to deal with any difficulties that come their way.
