A TALE OF TWO HOUSES

Based on the parable of the house that was built on rock -- Matthew 7:24

by Eileen Moynihan

One day a farmer who lived near the sea, called his two sons to him. “Come here Ben! Come here Dan!” The two young men ran to their father.

“Yes Father, what do you want?” they asked.

“Now that you are men, I think it is time that you had your own houses to live in. There is some land near the beach that you can build on. You can build where you like but make sure the ground is firm. It would be wise to use the best bricks and workers for the job.”

“Thank you Father,” they said, and went away to think about their new houses.

The next day Ben got up early, and went to look at the land, to choose a spot to build his house. He looked all around to find firm ground, and found a place where there was rock, a good distance from the beach and cliffs.

Later on, Dan went to look at the land, to choose a spot to build his house. He looked all around to find a good view of the sea, and found a place with soft sand near the cliffs.

The following day, Ben went to see an architect to help him draw up plans for his house. Dan went to an art shop and bought a big sketch book. Then he went home to draw his own plan for his house. By the end of the week, Ben had hired good builders, and carpenters from the town. At the weekend, Dan decided to get some of his friends to help him build his house. So the work began. Dan’s house was put up quickly and didn’t cost him very much. Ben’s house went up slowly with care, and cost quite a lot of money.

When both houses were finished, Ben and Dan called their father. “Father come and see our houses!”

So their father came and looked at the houses. First he looked at Ben’s house, and smiled. Then he looked at Dan’s house and frowned, but he did not let Dan see his frown.

“Well Father, what do you think of our houses?” Ben and Dan asked.

“There is a storm coming tonight, and that will show how strong your houses are,” their father replied.

Indeed the storm did come, and it was a very bad storm. Rain came down, water rose, gales of wind blew and banged themselves against the houses. Ben’s house did not fall, as it was built on rock. But Dan’s house fell with a crash into the sea, as it was built on sand.

 Luckily Dan was able to get out of his house just in time. He ran to Ben’s house, and Ben took him in.

The next day Dan went to see his father.

“Father I wish I had listened to you, I am going to work hard and build another house on rock. I will not be so silly again.”

“Sometimes we have to learn the hard way,” his father said and hugged him.