August 28

*By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.*
• For our final devotion in our Wise Up Series, I thought it would be fitting for us to ponder a pair of proverbs that bring us full circle, back to what this whole book is all about. In his introductory remarks Solomon had told his sons to gather round and meditate on his sayings so they could attain wisdom and discipline, grow in justice, knowledge, and learning, all of which are founded on the fear (that is faith, awe, and respect) of the LORD. Although his proverbs include much practical advice for daily living in a sin-corrupted topsy-turvy world, nevertheless it’s clear that Solomon’s deepest concerns are not riches, honor, or a long life—these are but some of the possible side-effects of a godly living. Put more concisely: once one has the LORD, he enters heart and home and blesses in ways that no amount of material prosperity could ever accomplish.
• Solomon advises us to build our homes on godly wisdom and establish them on the divine understanding that is found in the sacred Scriptures. But with these words it’s quite possible that Solomon has more in mind than just our immediate families in the here and now. In Hebrew as in English a “house” can also signify what we might call one’s family dynasty, the legacy that is passed on for future generations. For better or worse each one of us is on the receiving end of hundreds of generations of striving and experience—if you will we all have our own wing or room in the house, and yet at the same time we are tasked with adding on, giving, and contributing to whatever was there before, and we believers ought to do so with the long-game in mind because what we do and say today is going to affect and impact on the souls and lives of individuals and generations yet to come.
• But even if our forebears may have figuratively speaking handed down to us an empty shack with bare walls and a dirt floor, Solomon assures us that whether single or married, widowed or divorced with God’s wisdom our homes can be filled with rare and beautiful treasures. With the jewels of joy in Christ, peace with God, and gratefulness. With portraits of everyday contentment and unwavering commitment. With pillars of love and truth and gentleness. In him ours can be homes whose pantries and dinner plates abound in the fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and whose halls echo with God’s forgiveness and resound with his praise. And what is true of our homes need not stop at the threshold. Through the spread of the gospel and by the power of God the same can also be true of our workplaces and schools, our communities and, yes, our whole land. So as we go back and get on with our lives today, let’s do so intentionally aware of what we’re building.

**Prayer:** Lord God, build my life squarely and securely on the foundation of your love and grace for me in Jesus, revealed in your holy Word and Sacraments. Through these make me, my family, and all those I love wise for salvation and rich in eternal treasures. I ask all these for my Savior’s sake. Amen.