Building or Pulling Down

"The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."

Proverbs 14:1

The actions people take have real consequences.  Paul urged the believers in Corinth to take heed how they built on the foundation he provided them as a master builder, that they build their lives by faith in  Jesus Christ and the Gospel.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus contrasted the wise and foolish man:  those who hear the words of Jesus and obey He likened to a man who built a house on the rock that would stand firm in the storm.  The foolish man heard the words of Jesus but did not do them.  He was likened to one who builds on the sand and the fall of that house would be great.

Everyone who has received life from God by grace chooses how they build their life day by day.  The wise woman builds a house that will stand, for it is built with acknowledgment of God's wisdom and ways.  The foolish woman, however, builds as if God does not exist.  This is like one that builds "off the plan," a dwelling without permits that will be condemned and razed to the ground by the council because it is condemned.  A person might be able to shift the blame for their poor investment by being deceived by an unscrupulous or deceitful builder, but no one can dodge personal responsibility for the condition of their heart before the almighty God and Judge of all.

It is easy to blame others for choices we have made ourselves and now must live with.  We can blame the careless conduct of others for losing our temper; we can blame an addiction on the power temptation has over us.  But those who are wise through being born again by faith in Jesus should not cower behind lame excuses.  Solomon was the wisest man yet worked to pull down his own kingdom through idolatry.  His personal transgressions and rebellion against God made a negative impact on a nation by many who followed his example.  Yet even Solomon's subjects could not rightly blame him for their idolatry, for God had given them His word and revealed Himself in righteous statutes.  God held each person accountable for their sin, and should they cause others to stumble they would also answer for it.

Let us be those who take heed how we build our lives, edified in the grace of God and upholding the wisdom of God in righteous conduct.  If someone is intent on pulling down his or her house, it does not mean houses are bad.  The world in which we live is quick to find blame in government, society, the lack of education or claims problems are systemic when God still holds individuals personally accountable for their actions.  We cannot rightly blame our upbringing, peer pressure we feel, the behaviour of others or any "ism" for choosing to pull down our own house with our hands.  God is greater than the sum of all our problems and conditions, and praise Him He transforms us with His wisdom, goodness and grace.  Even if others work to tear us down, God lifts us up.  Our hope, comfort, peace, joy and rest--the life of abundance--is in Him.