LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Jan. 25: Wisdom for establishing a home built to last_11204

Posted: 1/09/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Jan. 25

Wisdom for establishing a home built to last

Selected Proverbs

By John Duncan

Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury

The greatest challenge facing the family today is time. Managing time, finding time and spending time as a family persistently haunt the family. Proverbs begs us to invest time in our families and thus to live by God's wisdom.

The writer of Proverbs declares, “Through wisdom a house is built; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Proverbs 24:3-4). A house is built by taking time to build it properly and by laying a spiritual foundation reinforced by the strength of God.

A house?

When the writer of Proverbs speaks of a house, he speaks of the intricate web of relationships comprising the home–husband-wife; parent-children; and the extended family. Today that includes single parents and blended families. Families discover wisdom in two relationships: (1) a relationship with God; (2) a relationship with other family members based on the relationship with God. How do families build a wise house? How is understanding established? How is spiritual knowledge transferred?

Foundation

Christ forms the foundation for the home. Salvation in Christ reinforces the home. Christ's death, burial, resurrection and love are reinforced through discernment and discipline. Discernment (“understanding,” Proverbs 24:3) is taught so Christian principles influence what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, what is moral and immoral in God's eyes. Chuck Swindoll says that home is the “cutting edge” place to produce maturity and wisdom. It also is the “place where life makes up its mind.” Discernment taught in a home teaches a spirit of discernment ready for use in service to Christ in the real world. A person who has a strong spiritual home life will be prepared for making wise and spiritual decisions in life.

Discipline (Proverbs 24:24, “knowledge”) also is acquired through teaching responsibility. Parents who demonstrate wisdom work to instill a God-kind of wisdom to their children through discipline. The discipline of a parent equips the child for patience in times of difficulty and gratitude in times of blessing. Each of these two vital training essentials requires time and relationship in the house.

Walls

The writer of Proverbs personifies a home as full of wisdom. The four walls of the home serve as four spiritual qualities for family life to please God. The four qualities are love, a bond of commitment, patience and faith. The wall of love connects to Christ's foundation. The love necessary for a home to be healthy is the sacrificial love of Jesus (John 3:16). Such love requires mutual interest and care.

Another wall connected to Christ the foundation is the bond of commitment (Genesis 1:26-27). It joins a relationship to unified purpose, happiness and support. It inspires encouragement between family members in the home.

A third wall is patience. Patience is two-fold: (1) the ability to be slow to pay back a wrong (Galatians 5:22-23); (2) and the ability to stand strong and united under the pressures (James 1:3-5).

A fourth wall is faith, the ability to trust God in the realities of family life–crisis, sickness, conflict, marriage, raising children, financial pressures and death. Faith inspires a confidence in God that solidifies a family and deepens love in the anxiety of family life.

Windows

The writer of Proverbs speaks of chambers in the house. The chambers are rooms filled with all precious and pleasant riches (Proverbs 23:4). The riches are substantive things that bring cohesion and unity to the family–furniture, memories and respect for one another.

Beware, though. The furniture, memories and mutual respect in Jewish life represent more than symbolism and “stuff.” A home where Christ is honored requires more than necessary “stuff” for the family relationship to be healthy. It needs spiritual substance. What substantive “stuff” fills the rooms of a house to produce riches?

Three things are necessary for a home. I liken them to the windows of a house, tools for removing darkness and supplying light. One is prayer. P.T. Forsythe says, “Prayer alone prevents our receiving God's grace in vain.” Grace sheds light on a healthy family. Two is God's word. Grace taught in the home ultimately generates happiness and joy, even in crises (Dueteronomy 6:1-10). Three is communication. Communication may serve as the most essential “stuff” for the home–communication with God and with each other, even in the challenges of family life. Still, love covers a multitude of sins and relaxes tense moments (James 5:20).

Roof

Every home needs a roof for protection from hailstorms, rainstorms, furious winds and blistering heat. What protects a home? Grace and truth protect a home (John 1:14). While grace and truth protect the lives in the home, the roof only survives if the foundation and walls remain intact. How do they remain intact? They remain intact through forgiveness–Christ's and each others'.

Building a house takes time. Building a spiritual home involves making time for the precious spiritual. Keeping a home healthy requires forgiveness to flourish like a flower at the front door.

Question for discussion

Where do your spiritual home improvements need to begin?