A House Built by Wisdom

Today we’re reading Proverbs 24. Verse 3 & 4 say, “A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.” If we were building a home, it would require a lot of wisdom and knowledge to build a strong structure. Each room would be filled with beautiful qualities such as cabinetry, trim work, flooring, architectural design, etc.

But I take these verses to be speaking of our life as the house. As we grow in wisdom and understanding of God’s word, we build our “house”. The more we learn, the stronger that house becomes.

As we grow in understanding of God’s word, each act of obedience fills our rooms with beautiful treasures such as witnessing and spreading the good news, acts of kindness that share the love of Jesus, forgiveness when it would be easier to hold a grudge, helping someone in their time of need, and so many other beautiful things that God calls us to do.

This reminds me of a childhood VBS/Sunday School song:

The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
And the rains came tumbling down.

The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
And the house on the rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
And the rains came tumbling down.

The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
And the house on the sand went crash!
The rains came down and the floods came up
And the house on the sand went crash!

Be sure that you are building your “house” with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge that can only be gained through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What a beautiful way to build a house!

Verse 16 also spoke to me. It says, “Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.” No matter how many times you fall away from God, get back up! We are going to make many mistakes in this life, but always get back up! Go running back to Him for forgiveness!

1 Don’t envy evil men or desire to be with them,
2 for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;
6 for you should wage war with sound guidance- victory comes with many counselors.
7 Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the gate.
8 The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.
10 If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t He who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t He who protects your life know? Won’t He repay a person according to his work?
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.
15 Don’t set an ambush, wicked man, at the camp of the righteous man; don’t destroy his dwelling.
16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.
19 Don’t worry because of evildoers, and don’t envy the wicked.
20 For the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king, and don’t associate with rebels,
22 for their destruction will come suddenly; who knows what disaster these two can bring?
23 These [sayings] also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”- people will curse him, and tribes will denounce him;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.
26 He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterwards, build your house.
28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”
30 I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
31 Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined.
32 I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
34 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.