Three Steps to a Fulfilled Home

They say home is where the heart is. We begin with a physical building, but home is so much more than boards and siding. It is the relationships of the people within it. Yet, simply having a physical family, a spouse and children, does not guarantee a fulfilled family life. What can we do to make sure that we build our “homes” as they should be?

Proverbs 24:3-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

Wisdom

We begin building our home with wisdom, but not just any wisdom. We need God’s wisdom. We have to seek it, accept it and use it. We find God’s wisdom in the Bible, but simply having a Bible doesn’t do us any good. We have to read it, accept it as truth and then put it into practice.

Romans 11:33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

James 1:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 3:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

The wisdom of God seems foolish to those who do not know God. Yet, because it is from God it is the real truth. It is pure and uncorrupted, not quarrelsome but rather gentle, reasonable, merciful. It does good, is sincere and is not swayed. God’s wisdom is so vast and so deep we could never fathom it. Yet, God gives generously to all who ask. He is not stingy, nor does He hold back from us or chide us for not knowing. He loves to share His wisdom with us!

Understanding

Once we have begun building our house with wisdom, we establish it with understanding. Understanding as used in Proverbs is more than just comprehension. It is a skill that involves intelligence and insight. It requires discretion, reason and prudence. It uses God’s wisdom and applies it to life. In a sense, understanding is the application of godly wisdom, but it requires much more than just godly wisdom, it also requires godly character and insight.

Proverbs 3:19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.

Proverbs 9:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Once we build a house, we have to use it. We have to establish it. Otherwise, it remains an empty shell. God built the world with wisdom, then He established it with understanding. We need to follow this model in making our homes. The way that we gain understanding is by knowing God. This is not merely knowing about Him, but a personal, intimate knowledge that comes from relationship. So before we can have good relationship within our family, we must have a good relationship with God.

Knowledge

Once we have built and established our home, we must then fill it with precious and pleasant riches. Those riches are knowledge. Wisdom, as portrayed in Proverbs as a woman, longs to fill us with the riches of her knowledge. Again this knowledge is much more than just information. It is a personal knowing. It is the knowledge of the Holy. Those riches are a wealth of sufficiency, of having enough, of being satisfied. They are the only riches which are truly delightful, satisfying and glorious. That is what we should be influenced by. That is what should permeate our entire being so that it affects our every thought and action. Our relationship with God, the wisdom and understanding He gives, should influence everything we do. That is how we have a fulfilling home and family. Knowledge is what fills in the gaps, what makes us well rounded and relatable.

Proverbs 18:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

1 Samuel 2:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.

Psalm 119:66 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.

That does not mean we should not also seek information. Information can be very useful and necessary, and we should seek to keep our minds sharp and informed. That is wise, but we have to use God’s wisdom to interpret the information we get, and we should not let that knowledge make us arrogant. God does not desire for us to be ignorant, but we have to use our intelligence wisely. We need Him to teach us what is good and right.

How are you building your family and your life? Is it with God’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge? Seek Him for those things through an intimate relationship with Him.