Proverbs 24:27
|
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
|
What wonderful advice! Thank you, gracious Lord. Here we have the most practical advice possible - become good at your trade or business before spending on a house. Even businesses could benefit - plow your earnings back into the company before declaring dividends or building a fancy home office. Indeed, the Preacher was very wise!
In the agrarian society of Israel, most men worked outside in the fields, either growing produce or tending flocks and herds. Cain and Abel represented the two main industries of such a society - one tilled the ground and one kept sheep (Gen 4:2). But each man had to choose one of these endeavors and become very good at it in order to support a family.
The wise man tells his son there is a right order to a man's life. He must identify his professional calling and establish himself in it before investing in the ornament and luxury of a house, which consumes, rather than produces, income. Many create hardship for their families, and some never recover, by getting these two stages of life out of order.
Most Americans are too impatient to follow this rule. They want the goodies now; they want to show off a house before they have earned it; they want to be driving a nice car before they even have any financial assets. They will not save and wait; they lack the self-discipline and humility to keep things in proper order; they want to enjoy life now!
Both our easy credit and our income tax policies encourage these foolish choices. Credit cards, installment debt, and easy mortgages seduce them into purchasing expensive consumer goods and houses before they are ready professionally or financially. And the deduction of loan interest for tax purposes further promotes these dangerous choices.
A young man's goals, in order, should be to identify his life's work, become proficient at it, and raise some capital before he worries about the luxuries and assets of fathers (19:14). With his income secure, he can think about a wife and house, but not until then. Income production should be far more important to him than income consumption!
A young man committed to this proverb is not ashamed to drive a used car and live with his parents. He wants to focus on his work and accumulate capital as fast as possible. He knows professional competence and capital are more important than pleasures or comfort. Nice cars or houses waste capital. He plans to have a house, a fine house, later!
A house is an enormous expense and luxury, as fathers know. It is a foolish burden for the young man, until he has established himself securely in his profession. An apartment, used cars, a modest wardrobe, and limited entertainment will do fine. A house produces nothing but expenses. An ox, or any modern income-producing asset, is a much better choice than a house, unless it is a duplex! See the comments on 14:4.
Hasty men, who get these major decisions out of order, are headed to financial ruin (21:5; 28:20-22). A wise father will not give his daughter to a man who has these priorities confused. His daughter will suffer from needless poverty and financial stress, as do so many marriages today, where the father did not properly protect his daughter in this way.
Jacob worked seven years for Rachel (Gen 29:18-20). By then he had accumulated the basis for an estate and proven himself to his father-in-law. The dowry served this testing purpose for other men (Ex 22:16-17). Spendthrifts found it hard to marry good girls! Only young men with a successful trade and capital could marry Israel's better daughters.
Let every reader beware. Patient diligence is God's plan for financial success (12:11; 27:23-27; 28:19). Prepare your heart to resist our covetous and greedy nation's mantra of "buy now, pay later." The debt monster always comes back to bite. Let the American dream be to own your own business (or profession), rather than your own house.
Our Lord Jesus Christ kept the priorities of this proverb gloriously. The Son of God prepared His work, performed it perfectly, and finished it. Then He began to build His house - the church (Matt 16:18). And He began preparing a permanent dwelling place for His bride (John 14:2-3). Glory!
Get a life before a wife! Establish your profession before buying a house! Get a real job before buying a truck! Necessities come before comforts. Income production comes before spending. Secure your source of income before committing to expensive projects. Prepare before building, lest you are ridiculed for unfinished projects (Luke 14:28-30).
www.letgodbetrue.com
