GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER. Are you the parable people tell of what not to do?
“I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.” Proverbs 24:30-31
It’s a metaphor. You can’t hide from your fruit, it will rat you out. If your house is in disorder and chaos, it will become known no matter how much you try to hide it. If your kids are disrespectful and cause trouble, it’ll get out quickly. When nobody wants to be around you friend, the problem is not all those others who have tried, it’s you. You’re the common denominator. When your stone wall is broken down, you lack self-control. You are lazy and refuse to correct those things in your life that God has commanded we take care of. This lazy man is a neglectful man.
Neglect- fail to care for properly.
The neglectful person is undisciplined. The neglectful man’s house is in chaos. If he is the undisciplined one, his wife will not submit to him because she has no respect for him. If she is the neglectful one, she refuses to submit to her husband because she is rebellious. The house is in disorder and chaos. They won’t correct and discipline the children, so they run amok. I believe most people do not enjoy being around disrespectful children, I don’t. Especially when my children were younger. Bad behavior rubs off. Because their stone wall is broken down, the neglectful have no defenses from the enemy. So the enemy keeps pounding. What areas are you neglectful in? Finances? Drinking? Parenting? Your neglect will out you. The proverb continues:
“When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:” Proverbs 24:32
I considered it well and received instruction. Others learn from you what NOT to do. You become a proverb of foolishness. Examine your house. Throw out the lies you tell yourself and demand the truth. Ask a trusted friend. Christians are good at lying to each other to not hurt another’s feelings. This is not friendship. A friend will hurt you because they want what’s best for you- not gloss over your neglect. If there is an area of neglect in your life, the enemy will expose it. It might not be revealed immediately, but guaranteed the seeds you sow will reap a harvest; especially in your children. Root out those things early on. God can turn around any and all situations, even the mess you created for yourself. But you have to be honest and diligent to put in the work. Your neglect didn’t happen in a day, don’t expect it’ll get cleaned up in a day. Be patient and work with the Lord to get your home in order.
