The joy of being a grandparent is a very special privilege from God.  It is a vital part of His plan for us as Christians.  In His perfect will, God sees past our children, to each successive generation.  Only in eternity will we know how far down our family line was there eternal change because of the fact that we were able to leave our grandchildren an inheritance in the Lord.  Many people strive to gain things just for themselves in this life.  They want big houses, big bank accounts and big names that denote success.  Often these things are sought after in a purely selfish way.  But there are those that seek after these things, in part, so that they will leave an inheritance to their children and grandchildren.  Years ago when a will was read, the land and possessions of a man most often went to his family.  That is the way God intended.  In Israel, the land belonged forever to the family it was deeded to by the Lord.  Careful provision was made to ensure that this would always be true.  Even if a man fell into debt and his land was taken, there were two laws of Israel to insure that his land would not be lost to his children and grandchildren.  Either a kinsman redeemer could claim the land, or it would be returned to the family during the Year of Jubilee.  Physical inheritance was important in God’s sight.  Each success we have, each acquisition should be seen not only as a gain for ourselves, but in relationship to our children and grandchildren.  Maybe people would be more careful how they handled their money if they had this thought continually in mind.  It is sad that in America, often, the importance of this has been forgotten.  Many people only seek gain for self, not for family.  In fact, even the true value of family seems to be slipping away, as so many divorces and "childless by choice" couples abound.  Christians must be careful not to be caught in the traps of the world.  We must always remember the great value of the family as a permanent institution in God’s plan.  But even more important than a physical inheritance, is the spiritual inheritance that we can leave with our grandchildren.  As we live our lives, the testimony of the Lord can be passed down through each generation.  How we raise our children will determine what kind of parents our grandchildren will have.  The things we teach them every day regarding godly values and priorities, will be those that they will teach to their children.  The importance that we place upon the Word of the Lord, prayer and church, will be the importance our children will pass on as an inheritance to their children.  The inheritance of the world, no matter how great or well loved, will only last for the space of earthly life.  The inheritance of spiritual things will last for eternity.  Though we "pass it on," we will never loss its reward, it will only grow with the giving!  What a challenge we have to be that godly example to our children and grandchildren that they might share in the inheritance of Christ through salvation.  No greater joy can be ours than to see each of those precious ones come to know the Lord as Savior.  The challenge is made very real as we think on the importance of an inheritance from the Word of God: For thou, O God, hast heard my vows; thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Psalm 61:5  Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. Psalm 119:111  ...an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [God]. Acts 26:18  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:12  A godly inheritance is the most wonderful thing that we can leave for our children and grandchildren.  If we have nothing else of substance to leave to them, yet have left them Christ and His riches, they will be rich indeed.

The power of a woman should never be underestimated.  Each one of us has the potential to either build our home or destroy it.  This verse is clear: if we are wise we will build it, but if we are foolish we will pluck it down.  The choice is up to each one of us.  It is a choice that we must make with whole hearted commitment and daily vigilance.  Just as it only took one straw to break the camel’s back, so it can take just one act of indiscretion to make a household fall.  One temptation of deceit, unfaithfulness, or any of a multitude of sins, can destroy a marriage and a home, if it is followed.  The wise woman may suffer temptation, but she will view it with commitment to her family and her God in mind, and firmly renounce the Tempter.  No habit or momentary excitement is to be compared to the worth of our precious children.  Many divorces are a result of pride and selfishness that could have easily been changed if the parents had stepped back and viewed the true eternal value of their family.  Children are not just pawns in life’s struggles, they are souls of eternal value, whose greatest role models are their parents.  I want to be a builder.  The Scripture tells us that if a man is going to build a house, he carefully counts the cost, plans ahead for the labor involved, and then is committed to the task.  If we ladies are going to be builders of our homes, then we need to set aside time to count the costs, take into account the work involved on our part, and then labor on in total commitment.  It may cost us some sacrifice of personal time and luxury.  But who can look at the passing moments of selfish "aloneness" and compare it to the smiling face of a well loved child whose mother has just listened to his adventures of the day?  I have seen many a selfish woman deny her children her time and attention because she is too busy with pursuits of self.  She is laying a rotten foundation, nailing the support beams in place at a precarious angle.  She should not be surprised when the structure comes crashing down around her as her children seek attention elsewhere in the world.  It takes time and strength to be a builder of homes.  The wise woman must have the strength of character to choose those things that please the Lord at all times.  She must have the strength to teach her children right from wrong and insist on obedience.  She must labor to decorate that home with love and peacefulness.  She must strive to make it a place that her husband can truly call his "castle."  A home with love, joy and all the fruit of the Spirit evidenced, is a home with a Spirit-filled woman.  Let’s each stop for a few moments this morning and see what needs to be done in our own home to make it a place of greater joy and security.  Perhaps we will need to do some renovating.  In California, there is a mansion called the Winchester House of Mystery.  The widow of the famous gun maker became obsessed with adding rooms to her home.  She thought if she stopped building, she would die.  The house rambles on and on, room after room.  There are stairways to nowhere, doors that open into solid walls.  She kept building until she died.  Her motivations were all wrong, in fact they were the result of a crazed mind.  Her rooms stand empty and devoid of family, a curiosity.  Even though we must realize that our task is to build our homes, a labor that will last a lifetime, ours must be done under the guidance of the Master Builder, the Lord Jesus.  He who is building us a mansion in Glory to perfect specifications, can give us the perfect blueprint for our earthly home, a blueprint which is contained in His Word.  He will also supply us with the ideal Superintendent of our labor force, the Holy Spirit, who will guide us each step of the way.  We can not do it alone, the work is much too demanding of skill.  But as we work under His expert guidance, we will have a job well done.  Our house will not be like the Winchester mansion, a place of no purpose or practical design.  It will be a real home, full of the results of our labor, with lives that are matched to the pattern Christ has for each family member.  It will be a place where the spiritual stairway always leads to God’s throne, and whose doors open into rooms filled with joy and love.  This is the most important employment we have as a woman, to build our home wisely.  Do take that moment today to reflect on your building program.  Is all going according to the Master’s schedule?  Are the proper materials being used?  Are the foundations secure?  Do any of the rooms need redecorating with a fresh coat of love?  Take stock honestly and wisely.  Do not despair if you see any structural problems or areas that are deeded unpleasant by the Inspector.  There is always the possibility of being a "rebuilder" if the walls are weak or the foundation is cracked.  But we must be busy and faithful builders to accomplish the task.

I wonder how many people would be saved heartaches and disaster if they were to heed the advice of this verse.  All too often, even Christian people are misled by the words of a foolish man who does not speak words of knowledge.  When I was saved, I was attending a large and well known secular university.  There were many professors who had degrees of learning in their specialty.  Many people looked up to them and were greatly influenced by their teachings.  But most of them were not teaching with words of true knowledge, the knowledge that can only come from God.  After I was saved, I had a new Light of understanding within.  Even though I finished my courses, I was able to "go from the presence" of the ideas and teachings of those men, because I perceived that they did not have the wisdom of God and that their teachings were contrary to all I now held to be true.  Each day, as I entered into the presence of God's Word in study, new truths were shown to my hungry mind.  The Holy Spirit used His Word and the new awareness that He planted in my soul to vieew with open eyes and mind the ideas of those I encountered each day, even in the secular classrooms.  What sounded like "wisdom" to others was often shown to be foolishness to me.  I can remember one confrontation I had with my professor of Philosophy.  He said that Christianity could not be true.  One of the axioms that he had taught us was that we were to examine everything logically, gathering all the facts, before we came to conclusions.  I asked him if he would be willing to examine Christianity’s claims logically.  He said "Absolutely not!"  I then challenged him that he was breaking one of his own axioms of philosophy.  He told me to leave the classroom.  His wisdom was truly foolishness and devoid of knowledge.  Yet many a young impressionable mind was influenced by this hater of God.  We need to be careful who we listen to and what advice we follow.  Too many modern women take the advice of a person just because they are famous or appear on a television program.  We should only heed the counsel of those that possess the knowledge of the most Holy!  No matter that such a friend in Christ might be a little known preacher, or a humble parent, they are the ones who are placed in our lives as people of renown, because they follow the Master Teacher.  Did you notice the urgency of the wording of the verse: Go from the presence...when thou perceivest...  This is no waiting or lingering matter.  Remaining under the influence of those that would lead us astray can be dangerous.  If we linger, we may become fertile ground for the planting of rotten seeds.  We need to teach our children the truth of this verse.  Teach them to flee from those who would turn their minds aside.  Those people lie in wait for our children every day.  They try to teach them that there is no God, that rebellion is all right, that it is okay to do their own thing.  Whether it is an unsaved relative, a public school teacher, a close friend or a television program...the red lights and sirens ought to go off to warn them to stay away from their counsel.  Notice the description of the fool’s words in verses 8 and 9: ...The folly of fools is deceit.  Fools make a mock at sin...  If only our teenagers would understand the price of listening to those that do not uphold God’s words and ways, it is to follow those who would deceive us and try to teach us to mock sin and fall into its evil trap.  Lord, help my children to "go" quickly from those that would turn them aside into the ways of sin.  Give them spiritual discernment to perceive such persons.  And, Lord, if they are lingering, then take them by the hand and lead them out from those that would destroy them.  Build walls of protection around them and help them hold up Your strong and mighty shield of faith.  Help me to discern knowledge or foolishness in others so that my family will be protected from harm.  Thank You for the knowledge of Your Word and Your Person that is always right and true.

What a contrast is found in this verse!  Destruction and despair will mark the household of the wicked, but that of the righteous will be blessed.  There are so many things that I noticed as I considered this verse.  The first was the careful use of the words "house" and "tabernacle."  The wicked might live in a small cottage or a large mansion but it is called a house, not a home.  Home is where there is true love and stability.  These conditions can never be found where the wicked person lives.  The use of the word tabernacle for the home of the upright is also interesting.  A tabernacle in the Scriptures always denotes a dwelling place.  God says that once we are redeemed, our bodies are the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, the dwelling place of the Lord.  When God chose to dwell with man in a unique way, He dwelt in the Tabernacle of the Old Testament.  Our home is to be our dwelling place, our chosen abode.  While for the earthly minded, home may be just a place to hang their hat, home for the Christian should be a place of special love and interest.  It should be a place that demands time and labor, because within its walls is the place of growth for our families.  Tabernacles were also a picture of the dwelling places of the children of Israel as they traveled in the wilderness on their way to Canaan land.  We are on a life journey, with our destination Glory land, and we must never forget it.  Our home is to provide security and stability for us while on earth, but our true home is in Heaven.  Just as the Israelites were ready to give up that tent for a more permanent home when they entered the Promised land, so we should realize that our homes are but temporary, but our home in Heaven above will be our permanent dwelling place for all eternity.  No matter how small or humble our earthly home, the one in Heaven will be a mansion.  The next two words of contrast in the verse are overthrown and flourish.  Despite all scheming and evil devises, the home of the wicked will be overthrown in the end.  There will be family problems that have no solutions, because they do not know the only Problem Solver.  But the home of the righteous will flourish.  That home where the family was meant to grow in love and wisdom, will be a place of amazing and rich increase.  A farmer is pleased if his land produces a good crop, but in the year when he sees the little seedlings flourishing, growing and maturing to an overflowing increase, that farmer is assured a harvest of rich reward.  In our homes, when our children respond to the love of Christ and grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, we can be assured a rich reward on earth and for all eternity.  While the marriages of the wicked shrivel and die, the marriages of the righteous will grow and blossom.  A righteous Jew was seen as having a wife who was as a fruitful vine in his household.  Our role as a wife within that tabernacle should be one that flourishes.  We must never stagnate in our life and character or our demonstration of wifely affection.  We must be that flourishing vine, growing, blossoming, filling the home with the fragrance of loveliness.  Think of how pleasing it is for us to enter into a lovely greenhouse, full of blossoming plants.  That is how our home should be in terms of eternal values.  Just as the gardener must daily tend to his plants; as wives and mothers, we must daily tend to our homes so that they flourish for the Lord.

Have you ever been filled with doubt or worry?  Have you had a family problem or personal need that consumed your hours with concern.  This is the verse for you!  Read it over again with the strong confidence that it promises.  Underline every word, and apply it personally.  The concepts and promises in the verse are a challenge to each of us to live on the victory side.  When we really grasp what it means to reverence the Lord, to allow Him the control that He is meant to have in our lives, to honor Him as Savior and Lord, then we will have the kind of relationship with our Lord that builds strong confidence in our souls.  It is not the type of confidence that can be betrayed or broken, because it is anchored in the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.  His commitment and constancy gives our confidence a strength that can withstand all the storms of life.  That strong confidence becomes like a sturdy sail that moves our ship of life through the seas whether calm or wind tossed.  Each one of us needs the kind of confidence in the Lord that will give us a sure hope no matter what the trial or difficulty.  The way to build that confidence is to build our respect and reverence for the Lord.  That means in every area of our life we must honor the Lord and give Him first place.  We may need that confidence when we least expect it.  It must be there waiting for us, strong and true, ready for action.  We need to review our lives and make certain that God is being given first place in everything.  God must be the LORD of our lives, if we are to have the strong confidence we need.  That explains why the Christian of strong commitment will always have such deep and abiding peace when sudden tragedy or conflict arises.  They have found the Lord to be their place of refuge, always available, always secure in time of need.  God promises that His children, we who are born again into His family, SHALL have a place of refuge.  "Shall" is a promise word.  I always tell the children in my Bible clubs that shall means "absolutely, positively, without any question, it will happen!"  We could read our verse, "Dear child of God, if you trust the Lord and have the proper fear for Him, you absolutely, positively, without a question, will have a place of refuge from the dangers of life."  When we need a place to run in time of trial, sorrow, or difficulty, that place is provided in the Lord Jesus Christ.  While the Old Testament person who was fleeing to the City of Refuge nearest to him, had to often run for miles and hide along the way, we need only to turn quickly and confidently to the Lord in prayer.  We do not have far to go, nor have worry of the Adversary overtaking us.  Our refuge is in the Lord, Himself.  We are His children, He is our ever caring Father.  What a marvelous privilege it is to be part of the family of God!  Confidence placed any place else but in the Lord can suddenly fail us.  If the confidence is placed in money, we can be sorely disappointed.  It will only take one financial set back to watch the dollars dwindle.  Even those that have "enough" money, can not always be assured peace in their hearts, unless they have confidence in the Lord.  Money can never buy love and true heart security.  No, our confidence can not be in the riches of this world.  If our confidence is in men, then that too could easily fail us.  Many a person has found that even the best of friends can prove less than faithful in the face of crisis.  It takes a friend of true Christian character to stand beside us in the trials of life.  Men, riches, success, our own abilities, they can all pass away and fail, but the Lord will never fail.  In my early married life, I discovered that I was allowing even my marriage to have a priority that only God should have.  I confessed it to the Lord and gave Him my full confidence.  The amazing thing was that before I made that decision, I did not have the calm victory and peace in my life and marriage that God desired.  As I gave God first place in my life, He gave the victory and peace, even in those areas in which I had previously tried to place confidence without His control.  My marriage became richer, my true godly confidence and joy stronger.  Only with God can our confidence extend to all areas of life.  Do you need victory in some important area of your life today?  Then make certain that your confidence lies with the Lord and not in that area or person.  Give God your trust today!

Most of us have heard this verse many times.  We may even know it by heart.  It can roll quickly off our tongue, but the question is, how often do we forget to obey its teaching?  So quickly when we have a confrontation, we are ready to strike out with angry words.  In the midst of a discussion, we have to make certain that we have the "last word."  The truth is that we are thinking only of self, and not of the other person involved.  If it is someone that we are close to, a loved one or friend, our concern should be: why are they angry?  In humility, we should consider: is it something that I have done or said?  If we would stop long enough to allow ourselves to call upon the Holy Spirit’s help, it would be amazing what different words might come from our mouths than the ones expected.  Consider the admonition of Isaiah 50:4: The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary...  Have you ever been tired, a little down physically, and started to bring up a problem to your spouse.  Have you ever been surprised by their response?  Were they immediately on the defensive?  Perhaps it was something in your voice.  Think of the need of your heart.  That need, because of your weariness, was for understanding and comfort, a listening ear and a soft answer.  Now, turn the tables again.  How often have you been the one who responded incorrectly, with the defensive, quick and harsh answer.  Isaiah said that the reason God gave him the tongue of the learned was so that he would speak the correct words, in the correct way, to the person who was in need.  Every person that we meet has heart needs.  Our goal should be to minister to those needs.  I have one child who hides their heart needs below many surfaces.  Often I must be willing to patiently listen to all their frustrations and confusions and even sometimes anger, until the layers of conflict are stripped away and the real heart need is shared.  If at any time in this process I fall for the temptation of self, and speak in the defensive, I will only be left with the shell and not know the real core of the matter.  My soft answer and willing spirit can be used to minister healing to the heart of that child, if I wait patiently.  Often husbands come home from work full of the cares and conflicts of the day.  They need a listening ear, a soft and compassionate helpmeet who does not jump to the conclusion that any expressed anger is being directed towards them.  When my husband was a police officer, I saw this truth demonstrated many times in other officers’ families.  The husband would return home from work, after arresting violent men, handling family quarrels, and talking to rude motorists.  All the way home, he had thought about being able to share with the only person who would surely understand him.  But when he tried to share, the wife’s response was often harsh and uncaring.  Then his response would be filled with wrath.  After seeing this so often in others, I prayed and asked the Lord for a spirit of concern and for that soft answer my husband needed.  After he "unloaded" the burdens, then we could talk calmly about other things.  If I had used grievous words, they would have acted like a mixer and stirred me right into the controversies of the day!  With the Spirit’s help, it is not that hard to give the soft answer, even when confronted by anger.  Surprise the one you are dealing with by giving the response that will make them pause in their wrath and look for solutions instead of strife!  Take it as a creative challenge from the Word of God.

Let’s consider this verse in just one way: as it relates to preaching!  The person that sits in the pew and listens with an ear to hear the reproofs of life that the pastor is declaring from the Word of God, is a wise and faithful servant of the Lord.  The reproofs might not always deal with us gently or in a soothing way.  Often they will be like arrows striking straight to the heart of our spiritual need.  Instead of resisting, we should gladly accept that preaching as for our growth and good.  The Greek word "to hear" means to hear with the intent to obey.  That is the kind of listening ear we need.  As we come to the preaching service, we should pray in our heart, "Lord give me an ear to listen to Your message for me today.  Lord, if it hits areas that are hard for me, soften my heart to respond.  If I start to put up the walls of defense, break them down.  If self righteousness tries to muffle my hearing, then speak all the more loudly to me."  Pastors can share with you about feeling a sense of the Spirit dealing with hearts as the message goes forth.  All too often they can also feel the stifling of that response as the "spiritual hearing aids" are turned down and then off.  I had a dear friend, who had been told from childhood that she had a hearing problem.  In the midst of a conversation, you would suddenly realize that she was not hearing you.  It became such a concern to her, that she finally went to a hearing clinic.  How surprised she was to find that her hearing was perfect.  For all those years, she had learned not to really listen when the conversation got too personal or involved.  Though physically perfect, her ears were not really hearing and her mind would wander or block out the words that were intended for her.  What a change came over my friend after discovering the truth.  She became a better friend, a more compassionate witness for Christ and a more confident individual.  It took a lot of practice not to "tune things out," but to listen intently.  Each one of us can apply this lesson to our spiritual life as well.  When God is speaking to our hearts, whether in a message or from His Word, we need to consciously listen!  The devil will try to distract us and cause our minds to wander, but we must not let him win the victory.  Our walls of pride must not be allowed to block out the reproofs of life, no matter how strongly they speak to us!  In Brazil, a Catholic church aimed loud music at a small mission church to destroy their services.  The plan did not work.  It was because the faithful asked God for spiritual ears to concentrate on the things of the Lord.  This week when the message is preached, ask God for listening ears to hear His message to you so that you can abide among the wise!