THE TENT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

“The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.” – Proverbs 14:11
 
REFERENCE:

Proverbs 14:11

Our text compares two kinds of dwellings; a house and a tent. One belongs to the wicked, made with wood, stones, and bricks, and gets thrown down. The other belongs to the righteous, made from cloth or tarpaulin, and will flourish.

This scripture may not refer to physical structures, but to the home, enterprise, family, industry, etc., of both the wicked and the upright. Hence, it is good to consider the truth revealed therein using physical structures as a metaphor. So, a ‘house’ or ‘tent’ in this context will mean the ventures, projects, enterprises, investments, etc., of these two kinds of people.

Our text shows that what makes a house strong and enduring is not the material with which it was built (whether bricks or cloth), the cost incurred in building it, or the size or type of structure. What establishes a house (physical or metaphorical) is righteousness. A godly foundation and practice of godly principles in the running of any ‘house’ (family, venture, business, etc.) gives it an unshakable destiny and guarantees its perpetual existence. On the other hand, wickedness (sharp practices, cheating, corruption, deceit, or dishonesty) by the builder/owner cuts it short.

Hence, the wicked may build his house (family, business, career, enterprise, etc.) with concrete, large sums of money, or fanfare. It may be grand and attractive, yet a wind – adversity, family crisis, bereavement, policy somersault, etc., will bring its collapse. However, the righteous may only be able to afford to make his dwelling with pegs, ropes, and cloths – starting with little investment, not able to afford billboards or office space. He may live on the outskirts of the city and may not be able to afford the finer things of life for his children at the time but, his house (venture, business, etc.) will endure even a whirlwind because the righteous has an everlasting foundation – Proverbs 10:25.

The legacy of the wicked, despite his wealth, will not endure. His errant children are unmindful of such a need. The children of the righteous by their Godly heritage and moral principle, rise to prominence by divine help and cast an ever-shining light on the name of their Father. Whatever you do, build, or set up, let its foundation and guiding principles be uprightness. It guarantees the blessing of God and the endurance of your ‘tent,’ even when ‘houses’ are collapsing.
PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Psalm 112:1-10, Job 8:6, and Isaiah 58:11-12

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PRAYERS:
+ Lord, deliver me from despising my tent of righteousness while envying the house of the wicked.
+ Lord, I choose to make righteousness and godliness the foundation and the guiding principles of all my ventures
+ I appropriate the blessings of the ‘Man Who Fears the Lord’ in Psalm 112.