A lot of people tell me that the Bible isn’t applicable today, that somehow these words have survived thousands of years, yet remain ineffective. Today, I want to give you a glimpse into how the words have drastically impacted my world recently.
One habit I have begun is reading a chapter from Proverbs each morning. As I rise early to greet the blessing of a new day, I long for the wisdom penned generations ago. The timelessness and truth of these words challenge the condition of my heart and give me much to ponder throughout my day.
Just this week, I read:
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations (27:23-24)
Let me share how this hit home this week.
Proverbs
Building Your House
In roughly three weeks, we will move into our new home.
Over the past nine months, we have watched, with much anticipation, as the trees were cut down and the foundation poured, as the walls have begun to take shape and as the rooms have become filled. It has been our afternoon routine to drive to the new house and let the boys run around. We’ve allowed them pick out their rooms and we talk about what is being built. As I’ve watched my boys run through the soon-to-be halls of our home, I’m humbled by what is taking shape.
Then I read this passage from Proverbs. It speaks of flocks and herds and homes. I immediately think of my boys and the house we are building. However, as the writer of Proverbs continues, he says that riches will not endure.
I hear a voice in my head saying, the stuff you long for and the material riches you chase will not endure. This house will eventually crumble.
It’s a sobering thought, but the things that we so often pursue are fleeting and it appears that the Proverbs call us to hold on to these things with an open palm.
Easier said than done…
Do you struggle with this as well?
Just as I find myself wanting to scream, What’s the point of all of this anyway, I go back to another Proverb I read earlier this week:
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures (24:3-4)
Replace What You Seek
I looked at these two verses together and combined them in a unique way:
Be sure to know the condition of your flocks wisdom, give careful attention to your herds understanding
Instead of material riches, we are reminded to establish and build our homes on wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Our true home, our soul, should be built upon something more than our security in that which will not endure.
So, this week, I went to our new home early one morning before the workers arrived. As the sunlight started to peek through the trees, casting shadows on our newly laid hardwood floors, I stood in our kitchen. I stood in silence.
And I prayed.
I asked God to bless and protect our home. I asked Him to allow it to be a place of safety and refuge for our boys. I asked Him to allow us the strength to fill its rooms with wisdom and understanding. I lifted up our home up to Him with open hands.
As I stood there, I was reminded that, prior to starting construction, we buried a cross beneath the foundation as a symbol from Jesus’ teaching about the house built on the rock.
The rains came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:25
Yes to building upon rocks and wisdom.
Burying our cross beneath our house
What is it that you treasure most? What are you building your house upon?
My encouragement to you today is that you give careful attention to what you are building upon; consider your foundation.
If there’s anything that certain, storms will come. My prayer is that your shelter is secure, eternally.
MH
Check out my book, Redefine Rich
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