Today our sweet contributor, Rebekah, is sharing with us:
As homemakers raising our homemakers-in-training, we oftentimes tend to focus on equipping our children with knowledge in the areas of home-decorating, cleaning, cooking, and the like. While each of these is an incredibly important, worthwhile thing for them to learn, there is a far more important, more foundational lesson to teach our children when it comes to being godly homemakers – the importance of building your home on the Rock (see Matthew 7:24-25).
Proverbs 24:3-4 says, “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
So, what does it mean to build a house on the Rock, a home and family that will stand? Let’s break down this passage from Proverbs to aid us in our understanding.
The Tools Required for Building a Christ-Honoring Home
What is wisdom? Walking in wisdom is the practice of applying the truths of God to your everyday life as you seek to walk by the Spirit in grace and truth. In Colossians 2:2-3 Paul prays, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Wisdom comes from knowing God, being in His Word, abiding in Christ, and walking by the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16-18). Wisdom is a gift from God (Ecclesiastes 2:26, James 1:5) that enables us to walk in a way that is pleasing to God. And wisdom is what provides the foundationfor our homes – it is by wisdom that the home is built.
The way that we build our homes with wisdom is by practicing the admonitions of Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and incorporating them into our everyday lives – “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Understanding is also a gift from God. We can read the Word all we like, but if we are not walking by the Spirit and allowing Him to open our eyes to truth, we will never come to a full understanding of what we are reading. Jesus said in John 14:25-26, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Psalm 32:8 is a promise from God that He “will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go”.
Wisdom only comes from immersing ourselves in the truths of God’s Word. Understanding of what we read comes from the Spirit illuminating the passage for us and guiding and aiding us in our interpretation thereof. This is why praying that the Lord would open your eyes and lead you into all truth is a crucial aspect of your “quiet time”. Reading the Word is crucial, but it isn’t enough – seeking the Spirit’s direction rather than our own mere understanding is important, as well.
While wisdom is what builds our homes, understanding is what establishes them securely.
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 18:15 says, “The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Knowledge, truth, and insight come from understanding God’s Word and understanding God’s Word is what produces wisdom. It’s a beautiful cycle that results in our on-going sanctification and thereby the strength of our homes and families. Wisdom is what builds our homes, understanding establishes them, and knowledge is what fills our homes with good things.
The Fruit of Building a Christ-Honoring Home
What does our original passage say comes from knowledge? Knowledge is what fills the rooms of our home “with all precious and pleasant riches”. Riches like the realization that the Lord will supply all our needs in Christ (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19), a good name (Proverbs 22:1), security and stability which comes through having the Lord as the foundation of our homes (Matthew 7:24-25), and virtue (Proverbs 31:10). When, in our homemaking endeavors, we first focus on cultivating wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in our homes, we will be laying “up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).
While you are teaching your children how to menu plan, frugally grocery shop, and make meals, also teach them wisdom. When you train your children how to clean the family home, also emphasize the importance of understanding. As much as you focus on the importance of teaching your children how to do the laundry, also be sure to teach them the eternal importance of acquiring knowledge of and from God.
Highlighting the importance and fruitfulness of cultivating wisdom, understanding, and knowledge is the best thing you can do as you seek to raise homemakers!
REBEKAH HARGRAVES IS A WIFE, MAMA OF TWO LITTLES, HOME BUSINESS OWNER, PODCASTER, AND BLOGGER RESIDING IN TN. HER PASSION IS TO BLESS FELLOW CHRISTIAN WOMEN THROUGH HER WRITINGS ON HER WEBSITE, HARGRAVES HOME AND HEARTH, WHICH EXISTS TO EDIFY, EQUIP, AND ENCOURAGE WOMEN IN THEIR JOURNEY OF BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD.
Website – Hargraves Home and Hearth
Facebook – Hargraves Home and Hearth
Instagram – @rebekahhargraves
Twitter – @hhomeandhearth
