August 5, 2026 -- Proverbs 14:1 -- Hey, what are you building?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down. Proverbs 14:1
 
If you are very familiar with the Proverbs, you’ll hear the echo “Wisdom has built her house” (Proverbs 9:1a). Here the word “wisest” is the plural of wise. It is the fullness of wisdom that builds the house. It is wisdom as an attribute personified. It is wisdom unto God, wisdom in the ways of men, wisdom to discern the worldliness of the world and to refrain from joining in.
 
What does wisdom build? A house. Significant. Think of this verse, “unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). The single man, or woman, or the married couple, build a house where the glory of the LORD shines forth. It is a place of refuge for the weary, a place of teaching for the young, a sanctuary of encouragement for the downcast. Rich or poor, strong or weak, young or old, the home of the wise reflects the lovingkindness of the LORD. Wisdom is a joy for those who incorporate it into every aspect of their life. Wisdom leads the wise to know, love, and serve Jesus.
 
Not so with folly. As with wisdom, now with folly, it is personified. Here folly describes people who deny the LORD. I can go even further; the fool might even make a verbal confession of God, but the action of his life proves he doesn’t listen to Him. Actions are a language. Believers in God confess Him with their mouths and obey Him in the activities of their life.
 
No matter what folly attempts, in the short-term, or in the long-term, it will be exposed as worthy of destruction. More than that, foolish living, spending, speaking, company, et cetera, brings ruin into the life of the fool. You can see it in real time. Drugs lead to self-destruction. Pride to ruin. Influencers get mocked (or get themselves killed trying to be the biggest, fastest, best, first). Rich people act as if they are impervious to any harm, but like all people, they will face death and their riches will go to worthless people and get squandered.
 
The Bible both instructs and warns us that “we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” II Corinthians 5:10. Our lives are lived under the watchful eye of Him Who is our Judge. Those who acknowledge Jesus as their Savior and Lord now, who live for Him in word and deed, all the while knowing the Judge as their Redeemer-King. Those who refuse Jesus now, wilfully living for their own pleasure, will at the end of time face Jesus as the One Who judges their life as evil and He will cast them into hell.
 
Blessed are You, Father of mercies and God of all Comfort. You have given grace and peace to Your people through our Lord Jesus Christ and given us the sure and unshakable hope that in Him we are Your treasured sons and daughters. By the Spirit, teach us to walk in wisdom’s ways and be prepared to experience affliction, and great suffering, so that we will be purified from all our sinful ways and sanctified for Your glory. Who can be stand up under Your Spirit’s work of making us holy? If You don’t strengthen us and help us, we will fail; so through every trial and moment of suffering, teach us to rely on You, the God Who raises the dead and gives patience, comfort which is always accompanied by Your never-ending love. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/DxQx2xZPC5M?si=YgWTB2oSTl0ed3mh Take Shelter
 

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