Laying the Groundwork

"Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house."

Proverbs 24:27

The book of Proverbs has great stores of wisdom to live skillfully in this life and beyond, and this verse emphasises our need for priorities which have a long view in mind.  A man receiving an inheritance of land would be remiss to focus his efforts on building the house of his dreams when his field was neglected and wall was broken down.  A fit field was the means of providing an income and trade.  It takes much work to prepare a field for ploughing, sowing and harvesting, yet then the land will also work for you.  Laying the groundwork is not as impressive as an edifice of stone and cedar but is critical to the long-term success of the project.

I imagine an ambitious young man who received land would want very much to prove his mettle and skill in building an impressive house for himself and household.  Such a man is interested in spacious rooms and comfortable, practical living spaces--not digging wells, grading, efficient drainage, clearing stones and laying foundations.  Being guided by our current interests can sabotage our long-term plans when we do the equivalent of putting the cart before the horse or the horse on the rider.  It is fine and good to own property, but unless the property  in a city is connected to a water supply, sewerage or electricity a house erected will ultimately become an uninhabitable ruin.  To pour money into electronics and a home automation system without first submitting plans to the council for approval or leveling the land to build a foundation would be a gross waste.

While we do not live in an agricultural society in Sydney, the principle applies to our lives today.  Better to apply to jobs that have openings that will enable you to feed yourself and your future family than to chase a dream which may never be reality.  Secure a job or career and then pursue your goals at the same time, for growing in character and maturity while learning valuable skills will help direct your efforts to maximise their impact.  Do you aspire to being married someday?  Lay down the groundwork by being a man or woman of godly character.  Instead of being frustrated no one fits your preconceived ideas of your ideal spouse today, learn seek the LORD and trust He will supply your needs.  Secure a job and learn skills that will contribute to a healthy household by cooking, cleaning and maintaining a house inside and out before you own one.  Having money to buy a house is not as important as learning to keep a house well.

What is true and verified in the physical world also has a spiritual application.  It would be silly to focus on earthly wealth and prosperity without any thought of the eternal state.  Today is the day to lay groundwork by trusting God, reading and heeding His word and using the gifts and talents He has given us for His glory.  This earth and all that is in it will someday pass away; mansions worth millions and valuable business connections will be swallowed up and lost for eternity.  To put our focus on building ourselves an empire on earth without consideration of God and His glorious kingdom is a great waste that leads to destruction.  Each one of us is building a house (our lives), and it is important we build with materials that will endure.  Knowing there will someday be a reckoning before our Maker, we labour to prepare ourselves today by sanctifying ourselves and being fit for Him.