DreamHouse Phase 1: Get Your Raw Materials

My daughter is signing a contract to purchase a house today, on the 24th of May.  How appropriate that my Bible-reading this morning included these verses from the 24th chapter of Proverbs, it being the 24th day of the month... And now that I think about it, we moved into our house on the 24th of November.  Hmmmm.  How interesting is THAT? 

God's Word is alive and powerful, as fresh and nourishing as newly baked bread, more relevant and informative than the latest news report or scientific discovery.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  Proverbs 24:3-4

OK now... this is the home I want...  But this kind of home isn't just something you obtain with your wallet.  This kind of home requires much, much more... This kind of home has three major phases:

• Phase 1 - Obtain raw materials
• Phase 2 - Construct the shell
• Phase 3 - Furnish the chambers

Phase 1 - Obtain raw materials
Through wisdom is an house builded... When I looked up the key words in my concordance, here's what I found.

• WISDOM - skill of an artificer, skill (in war), wisdom (in administration), shrewdness, prudence (in religious affairs)
• HOUSE - home as containing a family
• BUILDED - to build, establish a family, cause to continue, make permanent

In other words, through wisdom, a home (family) is established, continued, and made permanent.  The raw materials of the family are a man and wife, equally yoked as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, committed to love and serve one another as a picture of Jesus Christ and his beloved church, co-laboring to serve the Lord in their local church, and bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

When wisdom guides the selection of raw materials, a family will be established (stable), continued (enduring), and permanent.  When wisdom does not guide the selection of raw materials, the family will be unstable, waning, and temporary.

A home will never be any more stable, enduring, or permanent than the raw materials used to build it.  So phase 1, select your raw materials with care and wisdom.  Don't settle for less than the best.