ESTABLISHED BY UNDERSTANDING

MEMORIZE: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 2, Proverbs 31:13 – 14

What is required to build a house/ life/ family/ business is quite different from what is required to establish a house/life/family/business. Proverbs 24:3 says this: “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established.” To build a thing requires wisdom. What is wisdom? It is the correct application of knowledge. However, to establish a thing i.e. to ensure that the thing you have built remains standing as long as possible, it requires understanding. One of the biggest causes of problems in human relationships is misunderstanding. Yesterday afternoon I saw how a little mis-understanding, between two people in a relationship, could lead to unhappiness, disappointment, feelings of guilt and many other negative emotions. I went to a fruit and vegetable stall to get some lemons. Whilst standing in the queue, a woman waiting to be served observed that, her son, a boy of around 4 years old, was not by her. She called out his name and there was no response. Her face changed, she called the name again and there was no response. (The fruit and vegetable stall was right next to a busy road and there were people all round.) She started to shake and yell out her son’s name. By this time, everyone had literally begun to look for this boy. Suddenly, this boy crept out of where he was hiding. He had a big bright smile on his face – he had successfully hid himself and mum could not find him. Out of anger, the mum gave him a dirty smack on the bum. “Where have you been”, she screamed at him – almost bursting into tears. The boy began to cry. Immediately, she realized that the boy did not mean to cause her grief. She tried to pull him to herself but the boy refused.

What happened between this young boy and his mum was a case of simple mis-understanding. All he was trying to do was play ‘hide and seek’ with mum but she did not get it. Unfortunately, he did the right thing at the wrong time and at the wrong place. Had it been that the mum knew the young boy was trying to play ‘hide and seek’ initially, she would not have smacked him that hard. I think she probably would have dealt with the issue differently. By the time mum realized that he was only trying to play ‘hide and seek’-doing what any child of his age would do, it was too late. This is what happens when we mis-understand each other. Mr A does something or says something; Mr B mis-interprets it and reacts negatively. By the time Mr B realizes that Mr A meant no harm, it is too late. Before you know it, their relationship becomes strained. If care is not taken, that relationship may break. To establish something already built, you need understanding. You need to understand that people are different. They think differently, behave differently, respond differently to the same issue, and have different perspective on the same issue. You need to understand that people work at different pace. You need to understand that some of what you consider as good ideas, to some people they are bad ideas. You need to remember that we come from different backgrounds and we express ourselves in different ways. Having all these at the back on one’s mind always help when working with people. One of the few things you can do to avoid mis-understanding people or things is seek to understand things or people. Why did he say what he said? Was he provoked? Was it intentional? Was he responding to what was said to him? It is always good to see things from other people’s perspective. Also if you are not sure, ask question instead of jumping into conclusion.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: There are no permanent enemies. That fellow that is wicked to you today may become your lifesaver tomorrow.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please increase my understanding so that I will not pull down the things you have built in my life.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.