Wisdom has built her house: she has hewn out its seven pillars.

“Wisdom” a father said to his know-it-all teenager, “is what you gain after you know it all.” Many of us think or at one time thought we knew it all or at least what was best for us; through the school of hard-knocks many of us have gained a different perspective. “Truly wisdom is what you gain after you learned that you don’t know it all”

The writer of Proverbs, most likely Solomon, writes that Wisdom, whom I believe to be God, has built her house -carved out of seven solid pillars; seven is a number for completeness when it comes to the things of God. When I hear of God building a house I think of Him building His house on a solid foundation, one able to withstand storms. Jesus in Matthew speaks of the man who built his house upon the rock. Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation upon the rock. (Matt 7.24-25) That rock is the solidness of God’s eternal Word and Wisdom.

Yet in our sinfulness what do we and others often build upon?

We need only look around to see that there are other houses. Many of them look good, inviting and even well-kept, but I contend that they are built upon the sand of human thinking, effort, and deeds. Jesus speaks about those other houses, the ones built on a different foundation, in the second half of the parable from Matthew speaks about them: But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matt 7.26-27)

As I was pondering this text I began to look around at other “houses” where people take refuge from storms and the foundations upon which they are built.

Islam is built on five pillars: There is only the non-trinitarian God, Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet. A Moslem is to pray five times a day, give alms to the poor, fast from sun up to sun down during the holy month of Ramadan, and if possible make a pilgrimage to Mecca - all this one must strive to do so that he might be rewarded by God. Do we ever find ourselves trusting in our works to merit God’s favor?

The foundational pillars of Hinduism include: a belief in one supreme being reigning above hundreds of lesser gods; a belief that our souls are reincarnated evolving through a long series of births and rebirths, all the time dealing with the good and bad karma that we bring upon ourselves. Where Wisdom said man is destined to die once and then face judgment, (Heb 9.27) a Hindu believes he must do it countless times.

Under a Bodhi tree the one known as the Buddha proclaimed the foundational Four Noble truths: in this life one will suffer, desire is the cause of suffering, to be rid of suffering one must set aside one’s desires, and there is a path which leads to the end of all suffering, a place of “divine nothingness.” Wisdom summons us to a heavenly banquet - encourages us to desire it and Buddha tells us to empty ourselves of all desire.

How many of us have allowed teachings different from those taught by Jesus, to worm their way into our believing? How many of us sought to prop up the foundation of salvation with our sincerity, good works, or well meant intentions all of these to help save them if the cross is somehow not enough?

As I studied these other houses they seemed to me to share a common foundation: works. If I do this and this and this, then I will one day receive my earned reward. Are there many pious and well-intentioned people living in these houses? Most definitely. Have some of us been there, most likely….But the One who claimed to be more than a prophet, more than a just holy man, the One who claimed to be the Wisdom of God in flesh appearing said, regarding these teachings and traditions of men, (the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law, the false prophets and teachers) These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. (Mk 7.6) As good as it all looks, houses that are built on the sand of human tradition, effort, reason, or intention cannot save you.

Now it is easy to cast stones at them but how many of us build our lives or a portion of our lives on our human traditions, faulty thinking, and even wishful thinking? How many of us have hoped that a friend or relative will sneak in the side door of heaven on good works or a sincere life? How many of us have a pet sin eating away at the pillars of our faith? How many of us or someone we know have even rebuilt on a faulty foundation of our own making even after we or they have been repeatedly flooded out by the storms of life?

Of these traditions and teachings St Paul writes to the Colossians See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophies, which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col 2.8) A religion built on Christ is different from all the others for it is from God. It is based not on what we do but what has been done for us. It is built on a stable, a hillside and seaside, people in need, the cross, an empty tomb, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The stable is fulfillment of the promise to send a Savior not just another holy man but God’s own eternal Son. Joseph was told by an angel in a dream, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit… She will give birth to a son and they will call Him ‘Immanuel’ which means God with us.” (Matt 1. 21, 23)

This Jesus would grow up and around the age of thirty begin to teach. Whether on a hillside, seaside or in their synagogues He taught about the things of God. The people who heard Him speak were amazed at His teaching because He taught as One who had authority, not as their Teachers of Law. (Matt 7.28) Listen to Him for salvation is not about what we do for God but about the grace and mercy God has done for us.

The followers of John the Baptizer were sent to Jesus and asked Him, “Are You the One who was to come or should we look for another?” Jesus told them to go back to John and report what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the good news is preached to the poor.” (Matt 11.2-5) Truly, Jesus did for the people in need what no mere prophet could do- He did what only God could do so that we would know He is God in flesh appearing.

Then there is the cross and the empty tomb. God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. (2 Cor 5.15) The Father made the Son who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in and through His sacrifice we might be declared righteous and holy before God not by our works but by His. (2 Cor 5.21) At the empty tomb Jesus was declared- was set forth distinctly- with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead. (Rms 1.4)

After Jesus had ascended back into heaven, He and the Father sent the Spirit and by that Spirit His disciples preached and taught about this Jesus and the people then as now were brought to faith. Faith which rests on the foundation that Jesus is Lord. Rising up from this foundation is a house that is now ready to be decorated with works of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and gentleness, (Gal 5.22-23) not to somehow earn God’s forgiveness but in response to His forgiveness freely given to all who believe in Jesus as their Lord.

Jesus declared I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14.6) Wisdom has said it, and I again proclaim it to you: seek shelter in this house- His house, trust His foundation, not in your own. In Wisdom’s house you will feast on God’s Words, be renewed by His forgiveness and be nourished by His Sacraments. St Paul writes to Corinthians, It is because of Him (the working of the Father and the Spirit) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. (1 Cor 1.29)

All around are people who live in houses built on human traditions, efforts, and understanding. I do not question their sincerity but Jesus, who is for us the Wisdom of God in flesh appearing, desires we and all people have a house that can weather the storm of death that sweeps down on us all and that our house will stand because it is built on the rock of life, death, and resurrection. Because death could not wash Him away, it will not wash away those who believe in Him. But how would we know if no one had told us. How will they know if no one tells them?

Amen