August 24

Aug 24 - Today from Proverbs 24 we look at verses 3 & 4
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

This thought stands in direct contrast to the first two verses of the chapter which warn not to envy wicked men. Why would anyone envy wicked men? Because it often appears that the wicked men enjoy the pleasures of life with little or no consequence. Asaph was a gifted leader of one of Israel's temple choirs (1 Chron. 25:1). He was almost caught up in this short-sighted dilemma until God pulled Him back for a more panoramic view of life. As a result, Asaph wrote Psalm 73. It is good for us to read this Psalm periodically. It is full of wisdom and understanding.
The 'house' in today's proverb is allegorical. When people visit your literal house, they can tell a lot about you. They can discern your tastes and interests, your skills and abilities, your values, and many other things. It is a very good source of information about your life. Wouldn't it be interesting to visit your house through various stages of life? Think about the house you grew up in. From it you developed many of your own abilities and values. How about the house you moved into when you moved out of that house? Perhaps it was your first apartment - or a college dorm. Typically, it was probably radically different than the house you left. Perhaps you were making statements about your independence, and your peer generation had a lot of influence. If you're married, think about that first house after marrying. Compromises had to be made - now there were two influences in the house. Children bring even more influence. As you matured, your tastes probably became more practical. It now looked nothing like that first apartment or dorm you lived in. When the kids finally moved out you and your mate got things comfortable, just the way you like them. Your house was finally established. It's not going to change much any more as far as tastes and interests go. It's the place where you go to be yourself.
How you build your life is much the same. Lots of things will be brought in, and lots of things moved out. What remains to stay in is very important, and will determine your destiny. As you develop life, you discover interests, skills and abilities. Wisdom teaches you how those interests, skills and abilities are to be used for God's greater purposes for your life. As you develop life, you develop values. Wisdom places values in God's order. Morals and virtue become some of the beautiful treasures that begin to 'fill your rooms' and adorn your life. As you mature in wisdom, you begin to discover that the quality of life does not exist in the pleasures of this world, but in living in harmony with the Giver of Life. Now your house is being established. Establish is a great word. It means to settle in a secure place or condition. The Hebrew word for established in this verse literally mean to stand perpendicular. When something is standing perfectly perpendicular to the surface on which it is built, you can build it as high as you want and it will never topple. One will never become established by building their lives with the things of this world. When you bring something into your life that causes it to lean and sway - that is something that you need to move out. You may find pleasure in it. You may be the envy of your peers. You may think it adds great value to your image. But it will never serve to get your life established.
If you really want to settle in a secure place, build with wisdom. Wisdom is understanding life the way God meant it to be.