Proverbs 24:3-4
Thoughts from Pastor Stuart
Dive Deeper
“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.”
Proverbs 24:3-4
Behind the Scenes
Throughout time, different cultures and regions have come up with sayings that are easy to remember, use everyday objects, and teach a foundational truth that applies to everyone. Here we have a biblical proverb that uses the imagery of a house to apply to life in general. So, let’s take a closer look to understand the deeper meaning under the surface.
There are three stages to building a home that are lined out in this proverb: First is building it, second is establishing it, and third is filling it or living in it. So, let’s break down at all three stages.
The first stage is building a home. To build a home, you can’t just start stacking logs together in hopes that a sturdy home will take shape. No, you consult with people whose job it is to do this. You talk to architects who have studied the art of building design. You talk to professional home builders who have studied the practical application of those designs. You talk to inspectors who know what problems to look for. And you talk with bankers who understand the cost involved. You seek wisdom from every area- areas in which you do not already have wisdom. It takes intentionality, community, and collaboration. But in the end, when you’ve gathered all the wisdom you need, you will have a beautiful home to build!
The second stage is the establishment of your home. Once you have the plans and have gathered all the wisdom you need, you need a strong crew who has deep understanding of the process to walk through it with you. You wouldn’t hire someone off the street to lay your tile who has never done that work before. You want someone who understands what it takes to make it beautiful and long lasting. As you walk through this process with these people, you learn too! Before the process started, you didn’t know what you didn’t know. But the more you do, the more you learn. Ideas that were once theoretical play out, and you gain understanding of the process from start to finish.
The third stage is filling the home or living in it. Once the home is built it is good for little else but shelter until you put things in it. You carefully select what decor you want, what items you plan to hang on the walls, what sofa you plan to have ready for you and your guests to sit on. You shop for food to fill your fridge and clothing to fill your closets. You stock your home with the things that are needed to live, to invite guests in, and to grow a family.
Make it Real
So now, let’s dig deeper and understand the point of this proverb. It’s meant to represent life. See, we all have only one life to live and it’s important that we take that seriously. As we begin to build our life, we have to engage wisdom from the right sources. In the same way that your house will reflect the wisdom of the builder you employ, your life will reflect the wisdom of those you consult. If you allow foolish people to tell you how to live, your life will start to look foolish. But, on the other hand, if you turn to wise people, people who love the Lord and who are seeking to guide you in the godly wisdom they have attained, your life will start to look wiser. But most importantly, when you turn to the God of wisdom, your life will start to look like Christ. Where we attain wisdom from is what our life will start to resemble.
Secondly, as you walk through life, if you are open to God’s leading, through His Spirit and through His people, you will start to gain understanding. Your life will be established on truths that you gain as you take each step. A plan is only as good as our willingness to live it out. As you draw up the blueprint of your life, the next step is to walk out in faith, growing in understanding as you build the life God has planned for you. It takes boldness and obedience to walk this life when we don’t always see the end result. But we can trust the God of understanding to know all the facts, to lead us in the way we should go, and to increase our understanding as He establishes our life.
And finally, the life that God and you build together needs to be filled with knowledge. You could fill it with worldly knowledge but that would be like making a sofa from rotting wood and decaying cloth. Instead, we want to fill our lives with the very best. So, in the same way that you would want to buy a sturdy sofa from a reputable builder, we must go to the God of knowledge for the right knowledge to fill our lives. There will be tons of other sources trying to convince us to fill our lives with their faulty knowledge. But we must not settle for less. Only God’s knowledge will do! And only God’s knowledge will be sufficient to sustain us, to grow us, and to allow us to serve others.
Our Father is a good father and has all the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge we need to build a life that will not only benefit us, but will serve Him and His people. Only His way of building our life will result in a life well lived. So, this week as you examine your life, ask yourself where you are gaining your wisdom, understanding, and knowledge from. What sources besides Christ are you turning to? And how can you give God more control over your life so that He can build it into everything He always intended it to be?
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Lord,
I want to build my life on nothing less than Your perfect wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Please help me to identify areas where I am building on the world or other people more than you. Help me to seek godly wisdom from the godly people you have placed in my life. Help me to die to the pride that might stand in my way of reaching out to others and to You.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen