阅读经文 

经济和政治上的动荡，带给很多海员不利的直接后果。在2008年全球金融危机中，数以百计的轮船突然被闲置不用。多年来一直盈利甚丰的轮船业，突然陷在深深的困境中。历史上充满这样的悲剧。转变是不断在发生的，若把盼望放在现状上，我们便注定会失望。

每一个经济和文化体系最终都会走向衰败，在教导群众时，耶稣清楚地指出这点。祂的听众当中有些可能对他们目前的生活颇为满意，或许他们事业有成，在社会上倍受欢迎，他们也可能认为自己配得他们所拥有的一切福分。我们都喜欢从自己和自己的现况获取安全感。

然而耶稣提出警告，人们如果只信靠自己，他们的生命很容易便会伴随他们周围环境的瓦解而坍塌。只有一个方法才能够建造一所经得起风暴的房子，只有一块磐石我们可以在上面建造坚固的房子。我们必须把我们的生命建造在独一的救主耶稣的磐石上。祂应许赐我们一个始于现在、延续将来，并与神永远同在的新生命。尽管有风暴围绕我们，我们只需要把我们的生命建造在神我们救主的磐石上，我们的将来就必定是稳妥的了。

Economic and political turmoil has unfortunate, direct consequences on many seafarers. During the 2008 global financial crisis, hundreds of ships were suddenly laid up without work to do. Shipowning, a business that had been profitable for many years, was suddenly in deep trouble. History is full of similar tragedies. Change is constant, and any hope we put in the status quo will be disappointed.

Every economy and culture will fail eventually. Jesus knew this as he was teaching the crowds. Some of his listeners probably felt good about their life the way it was. Maybe they had become successful in business and were popular in their community, and maybe they thought they deserved all the blessings they had. We all like to feel secure in ourselves and in our own situations.

But Jesus warned that if people trust only in themselves, their life can easily crash down around them. There is only one way to build a storm-proof house, and there is only one rock we can build securely on. We must build our lives on the rock of Jesus, the one and only Savior. He promises a new life that begins now and will last with God forever. Storms may surround us, but if our life is built on the rock of God our Savior, our future will be secure.