Family Under Construction: Random but biblical advice from an unskilled builder

God has given me unique gifts as a skilled master builder who lays a good foundation. Afterward, another craftsman comes and builds on it. So builders beware! Let every builder do his work carefully, according to God’s standards. 1 Corinthians 3:10 (TPT)

• 5 Essential Actions I Must Take BEFORE Building:
• I WILL CHOOSE THE TYPE OF HOUSE I WANT WISELY.

Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built. And by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation]. 4And by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4 (AMP)

Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NCV) 

• I can choose based on what excites me. (feelings)

Being excited about something is not enough. You must also know what you are doing. Don’t rush into something, or you might do it wrong. Proverbs 19:2 (ERV)

• I can choose based on what I have seen. (experience)

He settled the…families of Israel peaceably in their tents. 56 Even after all this, they disobeyed…God…and did not live by His commands.57 Rather, they regressed to their fathers’ ways and lived faithlessly…They were as undependable and untrustworthy as a defective bow. Psalms78:55b-57 (VOICE)

• I can choose based on what God says. (faith)

The Lord gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. Proverbs 2:6 (NIRV)

Those people who are listening to Me, those people who hear what I say and live according to My teachings—you are like a wise man who built his house on a rock, on a firm foundation. Matthew 7:24 (VOICE)

• I WILL CALCULATE THE COST TO BUILD.

So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it?
29 Otherwise he may lay the foundation and not be able to finish. The neighbors will ridicule him, saying, 30 ‘Look at him! He started to build but couldn’t complete it!’  Luke 14:28-30 (TPT)

• The Godly & the ungodly will pay a price for building.
• I WILL CHOOSE A GOOD CONSTRUCTION TEAM.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders work for nothing. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the men who watch stay awake for nothing. Psalm 127:1 (NLV)

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 (NIV)

Listen to your leaders, who have spoken God’s word to you. Notice the fruits of their lives and mirror their faith. Hebrews 13:7 (VOICE) 

It’s better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. 6 Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel. Proverbs 24:5-6 (MSG)

The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do. 1 Chronicles 12:32 (ISV)

• I WILL REMEMBER WHAT MATTERS MOST:  LOVE.

Knowledge puffs you up with pride, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NCV)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6b (NIV)

• I WILL COMMIT TO BUILD.

Wise people act with knowledge… Proverbs 13:16 (NIRV) 

They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them hard.” They used bricks for stones and asphalt for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves so that we won’t be dispersed over all the earth.” 5 Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the humans built. 6 And the Lord said, “There is now one people and they all have one language. This is what they have begun to do, and now all that they plan to do will be possible for them. Genesis 11:3-6 (CEB)