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furnishing our houses

Proverbs 24:1-22 (JDV).

Proverbs 24:1 Don’t envy the evil or wish to be with them,
Proverbs 24:2 because their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.
Proverbs 24:3 A house is built by Wisdom, and it is established by understanding;
Proverbs 24:4 by knowledge, the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Proverbs 24:5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;
Proverbs 24:6 because you should wage war with sound guidance — victory comes with many counselors.
Proverbs 24:7 Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the city gate.
Proverbs 24:8 The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.
Proverbs 24:9 A foolish scheme is a sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.
Proverbs 24:10 If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.
Proverbs 24:11 Rescue those being taken off to death and save those stumbling toward slaughter.
Proverbs 24:12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t he who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t he who protects your throat know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?
Proverbs 24:13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;
Proverbs 24:14 realize that Wisdom is the same for your throat. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.
Proverbs 24:15 Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one, at the camp of the righteous man; don’t destroy his dwelling.
Proverbs 24:16 Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
Proverbs 24:17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Proverbs 24:18 or Yahveh will see, be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.
Proverbs 24:19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers, and don’t envy the wicked.
Proverbs 24:20 Because the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear Yahveh, as well as the king, and don’t associate with rebels,
Proverbs 24:22 because destruction will come suddenly from them; who knows what distress these two can bring?

furnishing our houses

Eleanor Chew writes, “Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge will build a house. A secure house, a house that will not be shaken or destroyed by the storms and trials around us. A house that cannot be challenged as it is on the solid Word of God. This house will be established and built on the proper foundation. Think of the illustration in the New Testament about the two houses, built on rock and sand.” (Maranatha Devotional, September 21, 2022).

In this proverb, the house analogy is carried a bit further. The house is not just established on a good foundation. Its rooms are filled with treasures because of the knowledge its owner possesses. It is safe from the storm but also exciting and attractive. A safe house can be empty and boring. A splendid house makes you appreciate its owner.

As believers, our job is to attract others to our Savior. How we build and furnish our lives matters.