Boxes
unpacked and everything in its place in our new home, it was time to perfect
all the spots and rooms that were “missing” something. Armed with lists,
sketches, and dimensions by room, along with paint and fabric swatches, I was determined
to achieve a magazine-worthy décor. It was a process, but not to worry. I’m a
great obsessor! Sadly, when I would walk around my house, rather than marvel at
God’s goodness all around me, all I could see was want.
Sometime
during that process, I came across Proverbs 24:3-4, and God’s
exact word for me in that exact moment drew my heart to home design that
pleases Him: “Through
wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge
the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
My
focus was all wrong! House in verse
three refers not only to a physical dwelling, but also to a family, the people
in the household, and the line of descendents. Regardless of what provides
shelter over our heads, a family is built, established, sustained, made
permanent, and sometimes rebuilt through wisdom, forethought, and discretion.
When we use the intelligence, skill, and insight we obtain by reading the Bible
and listening to the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides us into all truth, we
are able to discern, perceive, know, observe, mark, and distinguish what is
necessary for our family to be ordered, settled and secure, prepared,
accomplished, and headed in the right direction.
Now
to fill the rooms. Rooms in verse
four speaks not only of physical chambers, but also of the innermost or inward
parts. The part of us encompassed or enclosed within. Our hearts.
Drawing
from the same skills of observation, discernment, understanding, and wisdom, our
family’s innermost parts are abundantly filled with precious and pleasant
riches, which means each of us as individuals are armed, satisfied, and
complete with substance that is prized by God. Things He deems rare, splendid,
costly, influential, delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable, and sweet sounding.
Interestingly,
the root for riches means “vigour, generative
power, physical strength,” probably from ‘aven,
which means “ trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry, trouble of iniquity” (www.blueletterbible.org, H202 ‘own and H205 ‘aven). Consequently, the
riches with which I want to fill my house (and the hearts within) are
exclusively available in Christ to enable us to vigorously walk in the
generative power of the Holy Spirit in the face of any trouble, wickedness,
sorrow, iniquity, and idolatry.
We
are not going to find any of this in a home décor store!
So
while my mind was occupied with envisioning a flawless décor, that’s not what
makes a house beautiful at all! Pretty things are nice to look at, and walking
into a room that is “done” brings me great satisfaction, but I don’t want my
home to be attractive because of the right combination of seating, fabrics,
accents, paintings, and perfectly positioned possessions. I want its true
beauty to exist in the value of what’s contained within the people housed
there.
To
build a home is to build a family. To fill its rooms – its innermost or inward
parts – is to fill the hearts of those within with precious and pleasant qualities
and characteristics esteemed by God, not man.
What
is delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable, and sweet-sounding to the Lord? By no
means is this list exhaustive, but here are a few things the scriptures tell us
delight God:
A broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17);
A just weight (Proverbs 11:1);
Those who are blameless in His sight (Proverbs 11:20);
Those who deal truthfully (Proverbs 12:22);
The prayer of the upright (Proverbs 15:8);
The fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:3);
To understand and know Him, that He is Lord, exercising
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 9:24);
Singing, meditation (of the biblical, not New Age kind),
and being glad in Him (Psalm 104:34);
Sacrifices (of the giving up self kind, not animals) to and
for Him (Philippians 4:18);
Love (I Corinthians 13:1).
Is it
time to redecorate? Refresh a few rooms? Address a few heart issues?
We
have plenty to keep us busy around my house!
My
home is never truly finished in my eyes. There’s always something that just
isn’t quite done. I’ve been in my home five years and just last week finally
figured out a hardware and fingertip towel combination for my powder bath. Now
if I could just figure out what to do on/behind my toilet! You see, as soon as
I seem to finally have everything just the way I want it, I discover an item or
look that’s outdated, or my tastes have changed, and it’s time to start
refreshing.
In
the same way, we will never be perfected this side of heaven. We will always be
a work in progress as God finishes what He started in us when by grace He
turned our hearts toward Christ.
Fortunately,
though, the biblical principles we instill in our “house” never go out of
style. God’s word never changes and it never is outdated and it never gets old.
Our spiritual decorating efforts have eternal value and will always be in
style.
Lord,
fill our innermost parts with precious and pleasant riches that reflect Your splendor
and bring glory to Your name as we become more wholly Yours today.
Shauna
Wallace
Holy
His
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