The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
This verse is from the book of Proverbs 14:1.
In this verse we see such a powerful picture of how we need to be deliberate and purposeful in building our homes. Have you ever seen a home built by someone throwing it all together – getting the raw materials and just putting them wherever??
No….there is planning, strategy, thought, time, investment and cost that will have to occur to see a home in the natural built.
How much more thought, time, effort goes into building a house and the people in your home?
I get it! You are busy, tired, worn down with life! We can all feel overwhelmed with building our homes. What does this look like? How do I deal with this when I have my own flaws and failures in this department?
Somedays are great the next day you are literally getting a sledge hammer and tearing down the things you built yesterday! I want to share some thought on how we can build our homes. This is first aimed at myself and if it can encourage you then this is wonderful too.
First thing that a house needs is a BUILDER. Are you the builder or are you working with the Lord to build your house? No matter how perfect I want things I still need the expertise of my builder. My perfection and desire with such high standards means nothing and accomplishes so little without the cooperation of the MASTER builder.
Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.
Do we work with the Lord to build our family? Do we cooperate with His leading? Do we ask for His wisdom? Do we come humbly before Him to know the secret things that are happening? Do we have a personal relationship with builder to work with Him in the areas of our family.
When we get to know the builder we will get the right foundation.
Secondly we need the right FOUNDATION.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Jesus needs to be our foundation. Every decision and every moment of everyday needs to be with Jesus. Walking and hearing His voice. Practically in terms of building our families this means we have the Word of God embedded into our life. Is His word an optional extra or is it food for your very life?
I am challenged by this questions. Life is busy and hectic but I know that when my priorities are right then things will fall in place so much easier.
There is a trusting rather than a struggling!
Finally there are other elements but a house always has a ROOF – protection & covering.
Anyone who guards his words protects his life; anyone who talks too much is ruined. Proverbs 13:3
What a verse! Who knew your TONGUE has this kind of power in your home? I am sure we have all experienced this verse. I know I have. Our words bring life or death to those around. They build or tear down. Our homes are built with our words and torn down with our words. Choose today to think before you speak. I am such an action, get it done NOW kind of person that this is soooooo challenging! But….just because it is super challenging doesn’t mean that the Lord can’t help me where I am weak.
We build our house by knowing our builder – our heavenly Father, cooperating with Jesus through His word to build the foundation and finally we protect our home by watching what comes out of our mouths – being in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Please share how you have intentionally built your family.