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Proverbs 14:1-2, 34  The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.  Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.  … …  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.Like much of Proverbs, chapter 14 contrasts the big difference between the way of Wisdom (‘the wise woman’) and the way of Folly (‘the foolish [woman]’).  The distinguishing mark between the two is epitomised in the statement, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10a).
A defining characteristic of our present generation and culture is the widespread absence of “the fear of the LORD” in our collective worldview and the way we consistently live this out.  Solomon would not be at all surprised to see the way western civilisation is falling apart with no seeming ‘silver bullet’ to  ‘stop the rot’!.  Back in the days when the Sydney Morning Herald had cartoons on the puzzle page every day, the strip ‘Non Sequitur’ by Wiley, while not coming from a Christian worldview, was often quite insightful.  One cartoon depicted the average citizen gazing down an alley, directed by a sign: ‘THE SOURCE OF ALL OUR PROBLEMS’.  At the end of the alley was a full-length mirror!  Yes, in the absence of anything that even approximates ‘the fear of the LORD’ we are ‘tearing our house down’ without any need of outside help.  Our ‘devious ways’ are producing their own consequences.
How do we counteract this very destructive trend?  As Jesus said, by being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ (Matthew 5:13-16).  And what does this look like?  Just by living ordinary lives, and quietly displaying general behaviour, that begin with the ‘fear of the LORD’ and follow through on it in a consistent, disciplined way.  If these things are clearly evident to a watching world in all our communities in Christ, communities which are to be a modelling of the Kingdom of God/Heaven, then the decaying world will witness a visible, practical example of ‘Wisdom’ building her house in contrast with ‘Folly’ systematically destroying hers.
Surely then, with God’s blessing on our commitment to these things, we will  see the growth of his Kingdom, for his glory.  Let us be constant in prayer and deliberate, conscious effort, to this end, for our churches, schools, and families.  It is not surprising Satan is concentrating so much time and effort into trying to undermine and destroy all these communities!  
– Bruce Christian