If Only...

This morning as I had some time alone with the Lord, I found Him speaking to my heart through the reading of Proverbs 24.

The chapter starts out warning us not to be envious of evil men! How often do I find myself doing just that! How often do I say, “If only I had the resources, if only I had what ‘they’ have, I could . . .” Often as we answer the phones here in the ICHE office we hear parents also wanting what others (especially those in institutionalized schools) have!

Scripture warns us not to have our eyes on the world, and to not even desire to be with them! We, His people are to focus in on building our “house”.

Scripture says that a “house” is built through skillful and godly Wisdom.

It is apparent that most of us home educators do not feel adequate to do the job of training and teaching our children. To trust in the Lord’s way of building a house is very scary to us, because it is a new path for most of us. It’s hard for us to rest in God’s way and to not rush ahead, or to not “throw in the towel”.

The Lord’s order is for us to be filling ourselves and our children with wisdom first. Wisdom is the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord (Job 28:28).

Then we are to bring in understanding on that sound and good foundation of wisdom. Understanding is the ability to depart from evil (Job 28:28).

Then, and only then, when the “house” is built and established, are we to fill the “chambers” with knowledge, which when thus acquired will be precious and pleasant riches.

Scripture warns us that “knowledge puffeth up” (1 Cor. 8:1), and that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 11:2).

Knowledge is to be handled carefully, and has beautiful results when added to wisdom and understanding, but is disastrous when given to a fool (Proverbs 26:6) .

I find it interesting to note that if you read on just a few more verses in Proverbs 24 it states that, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small”. Looking back a few verses, the Lord states that a wise man is strong.

Fellow home educators, let us continue in this path of “building our houses” with wisdom, understanding and then knowledge. Let us not look enviously at those who may seem to have more, nor let us even desire what they have! Let us lay the proper foundation with ourselves, and our children and add on according to His word, so that we will be strong, and will not give up when things get a little tough.

“Be not envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; . . .Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation). And by knowledge shall the chambers (of its every area) be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong and better than a strong man, And a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power. . . ” Proverbs 24:1,3-5 (The Amplified Bible)