By wisdom a house you'll build, by knowledge its rooms are filled Proverbs 23:3, 4 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures
This is a very attractive proverb on wisdom, contrasting with the wicked of verse 1 and using the homely figure of a house and its furnishings. It again anticipates Jesus’s parable at the close of the Sermon on the Mount. It can be taken literally or, metaphorically, as referring to a household or dynasty or, best of all, in reference to a life of wisdom.
There are two parts. First, the building and establishing of the house itself, then filling it with rare and beautiful treasures. This powerfully illustrates how wisdom and understanding are gained. For example, growing wise is a long term business. It demands hard work and skill. Planning and careful thought are vital. Perhaps we can think of the whole business as having two aspects. First, there is the work of getting the house up. Certain fundamental things must be understood and established if we are to begin to be wise. Educationists are aware of this. Beyond that, however, there is the filling of the house with treasures. If building a house is a work that takes some time, filling it with rare and beautiful treasures is the work of a lifetime. Further, it is implied that wisdom can provide not only shelter and protection but also comfort and joy. The picture of the man, having built his house and filled it with treasures, sitting back to enjoy them is very seductive. One can pursue the pictures almost endlessly. The thought of the rare and beautiful treasures being damaged because of an unrealised or neglected structural problem comes to mind.
When you meet a person who is able to quote a great writer, tell you an illuminating story or show you the best way of doing something, realise that such treasures were accumulated one by one with patience and proficiency.
In 1901, Flora Kirkland took up the theme of 3 in a hymn. These are some of the verses
This is a very attractive proverb on wisdom, contrasting with the wicked of verse 1 and using the homely figure of a house and its furnishings. It again anticipates Jesus’s parable at the close of the Sermon on the Mount. It can be taken literally or, metaphorically, as referring to a household or dynasty or, best of all, in reference to a life of wisdom.
There are two parts. First, the building and establishing of the house itself, then filling it with rare and beautiful treasures. This powerfully illustrates how wisdom and understanding are gained. For example, growing wise is a long term business. It demands hard work and skill. Planning and careful thought are vital. Perhaps we can think of the whole business as having two aspects. First, there is the work of getting the house up. Certain fundamental things must be understood and established if we are to begin to be wise. Educationists are aware of this. Beyond that, however, there is the filling of the house with treasures. If building a house is a work that takes some time, filling it with rare and beautiful treasures is the work of a lifetime. Further, it is implied that wisdom can provide not only shelter and protection but also comfort and joy. The picture of the man, having built his house and filled it with treasures, sitting back to enjoy them is very seductive. One can pursue the pictures almost endlessly. The thought of the rare and beautiful treasures being damaged because of an unrealised or neglected structural problem comes to mind.
When you meet a person who is able to quote a great writer, tell you an illuminating story or show you the best way of doing something, realise that such treasures were accumulated one by one with patience and proficiency.
In 1901, Flora Kirkland took up the theme of 3 in a hymn. These are some of the verses
Building, daily building, while the moments fly,
We are ever building life work for on high!
Character we’re building, thoughts and actions free
Make for us a building for eternity.
We are ever building life work for on high!
Character we’re building, thoughts and actions free
Make for us a building for eternity.
Choosing, as we labour, what we wish to take,
Oh let us be careful for the Master’s sake!
He will help our labour, he will strength bestow.
Let us choose for Jesus all we use below.
Oh let us be careful for the Master’s sake!
He will help our labour, he will strength bestow.
Let us choose for Jesus all we use below.
May the Lord approve us! ’Tis our earnest prayer.
Oh, to have our building tall, and strong and fair!
Oh, to live for Jesus! Truly every hour,
Building, praying, trusting in his mighty power!
Oh, to have our building tall, and strong and fair!
Oh, to live for Jesus! Truly every hour,
Building, praying, trusting in his mighty power!
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