This well-known parable of Jesus comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) as a practical summary of the Sermon’s purpose.  Jesus did not teach to amuse the crowds, but to give His trainee apostles clarity about the radically different nature of His kingdom, and what that looks like in everyday life (Matthew 5:1-2).

At the end of all the teaching, Jesus said that there is a choice: to take it on board and do it, or to ignore it.  The parable is about two houses, which might have seemed similar, but they were built on different foundations.  The architects, engineers and construction workers design and build to meet the job specification.  But the most important part of any structure is not what you can see.  The foundation is below ground and determines the building’s ability to stand securely.  Building on rock is safe, but building on sand is at risk of collapse because the rain will wash the sand away, and the structure will fail.  

Jesus said that people who build their lives on what He says, are 'safer than houses'.  Whatever trouble life may throw at God’s children, they will withstand every test because they are built on the Rock - who is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).  The only way to build on Him is to hear, trust and obey what He says: after that it is up to Him to keep us secure.  Listening to Jesus and obeying Him is the essence of wisdom.  Anything else is the essence of foolishness, which will always result in personal spiritual failure.

This parable was directed first at the trainee apostles, and now applies to everyone.  That includes you!  The message is not only about how to prevent spiritual collapse.  More importantly it is about eternal security.  However strong we think we are, we are weak.  Living without obeying Jesus is the prelude to disaster in this life and the next.  Hearing God's Word, but failing to obey is just as bad. By contrast, when we are eager to do what the Lord commands, we become secure because Jesus is our Foundation Rock.  So, find one instruction which Jesus gave in this Sermon on the Mount; then choose to practice it, today!