Both of the Builders

“Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:47-49). 

This parable showing the different foundations

Of houses constructed before the storm came,

Compared and contrasted their two situations,

To show what was different and what was the same.

We know that both builders had heard the Lord’s Word.

We know that both builders completed construction.

To both of the builders, the storm then occurred: 

But only the fool’s house collapsed in destruction.

The lessons are many which we may derive

By thinking on these things of which our Lord spoke.

Though only one house of the two would survive,

The trials of life upon each of them broke.

The souls who are saved and the souls who are not

Are like the two builders portrayed in this story.

The wise, by obedience, thereby is taught,

As trials occurring result in God’s glory.

The fool who wants nothing to do with God’s way,

Will still have his trials, but not for his good,

For those who decide that they will not obey,

Shall know they rejected God’s counsel that stood.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your purpose in storms

In all of our trials, which You orchestrate,

For therein obeying with patience performs

Your work of perfection as on You we wait.