Devotional - 98-01-06 - Building a Wise House

Proverbs 24: 3, 4- By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

We can do this topic in the literal sense, as a Jew reading this would have. For example, when building your house, put the kitchen in the middle of the house, the fires there will warm the entire house. This would also help explain what is meant in Psalm 68:13, "When you lie down among the cooking stones". However, I think what is in mind here is wisdom and not building houses.

Outward prosperity!, Or as we might call it, estate planning, could this really be in view here? Is Robert Tilton in the house? Well, he seems to be out of town, or out to lunch, but outward success is, it seems, part of what is in view in this passage. No vows needed here; simply wisdom, understanding, and knowledge; i.e. Piety towards God, for wisdom and prudence in all our earthly affairs. Our affairs in life must be governed by wisdom in the rules of our faith.

Our affairs must also be governed by discretion in the rules of our faith. These two are not in conflict. Some, because of a lack of prudence, do not thrive in this world. Some, who are prudent, do not thrive because they do not trust God and they lean on their own understanding. There are many Christians who do not acknowledged God in all their ways (Proverbs 3:6). They therefore prove themselves to be unwise builders of their own houses.

Thriving in worldly affairs is not all there is in life. I know of many faithful followers of Christ who struggle financially, and by worldly minds, are not "making it", like some others. Thriving for a follower of Christ is much more than building an earthly legacy. Thriving for a Christian is following Christ, being Christlike, seeking and yearning to be more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ. This is thriving, and if you have ever tasted this thriving, you know there is nothing like it. There is nothing to be compared to building a personal house, a life, that thrives on the love and fellowship of and with the Lord Jesus Christ. Outward prosperity is much more than wealth and building a wise house has little to do with earthly riches.

"Some folks are wise, and some are otherwise." Tobias Smollett

"To search for wisdom apart from Christ means not simply foolhardiness but utter insanity." John Calvin

"Wisdom outweighs any wealth." Sophocles

Soli Deo Gloria,
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