If Walls Could Talk

Walls are the structural framework for our home, so their relevance does matter. When thinking about one’s home, it’s easy to imagine their service of protection from stormy weather, or keeping the warmth in on a cold day, but what about the atmosphere of the space they have been built to contain? In correlation to the human heart the foundation of that answer is found in 2 Corinthians 3: 2-3. Paul tells us “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” It’s an interesting choice of words that God allows us to notice as a new creation, a born again believer, we give testimony to Him by the display of a new heart of flesh to showcase. As we think about the atmosphere contained by the walls in our homes, we should examine our hearts for walls of stone that have been built by our own hands that need to be demolished.

King Solomon tells us in Proverbs 14:1 that “the wisest of women builds her house…” She is establishing a place of permanence, defense, and a foundation rooted in God’s Word. She builds a home that serves as a place of comfort, peace, and refuge for her husband, children, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. As women, we have been given the opportunity to build a home to minister Christ Jesus’ love within the comfort of our walls. What do the walls of my home establish to those on the inside as well as to those on the outside? It is honorable towards others to express and demonstrate that “our home is not [only] for our own comfort.”[1] John tells us in 1 John 3:18, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” How often do we open our hearts to open the doors of our home beyond our own comfort?[2] As we mindfully prepare to build a fortress of refuge, we should purposefully aim for our home to reflect abundant love. This is done through the consistency of building one another up through God’s Word, welcoming the unexpected interruptions of life, and by “counting others as more significant than ourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Solomon also tells us in Proverbs 14:1 what can happen to the house the wise woman builds, “…but folly with her own hands tears it down.” This begs the question to understand what is truly at the root of our thoughts for us to behave the way we choose with our hands. Is there someone we can express love to that with our thoughts we have torn to pieces, destroyed in our minds, and overthrown their place in our heart? The power lies in the woman’s hands to pull down, break in, and destroy what she has been given to steward and to serve. To guard against this destruction we must choose to obey 2 Corinthians 10: 5 to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”, and then choose to love beyond our natural inclination. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:14 that Christ Jesus “…himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” When we choose to only consider ourselves rather than to honor Christ and serve towards the purpose of His glory and His image, then we allow the wrecking ball to destroy what has been established and to keep out what may be added to His kingdom. However, hope is not lost, we do have the choice to surrender to His will, live in His peace, and not labor in vain. We have the opportunity to be intentional to reach beyond the comfort of our walls, and share every good gift He gives from above with those in our lives, path, and sphere of influence.

Wall Talk

1. Do allow God to be the designer of your home. Hebrews 3:4 teaches us that “every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” Set goals with children to learn the commands of Christ (no matter their age), purpose to let your husband be cherished and respected in all situations, and determine with effort to affirm an atmosphere of welcome and warmth to all expected and unexpected guests – see to it they feel wanted in your home the way God desires us to share in His son.
2. Do lay a firm foundation in God’s Word. 1 Corinthians 3:10 cautions us to be intentional to take care of how we build upon the foundation that has been laid. Build your home by preparing your family to be able to stand on the Word of God, and to be renewed and strengthened by His Word.
3. Do have an open heart and an open door. Romans 15:2, I Corinthians 14:12, Ephesians 4:12 and I Thessalonians 5:11 teach us to build each other up including neighbors for their good pleasure and those within the body of Christ. Use your home to minister to your family, and also look for opportunities to bless others in your life and path. Create opportunities and pay attention for ways to minister acts of kindness, and expressions of love that are beyond the natural bounds of comfort.
4. Do demonstrate gentle hospitality: 1 Peter 4:9 instructs us to show hospitality without complaining or begrudgingly. Do be sure to reveal an honorable heart attitude for those in your home and for all who enter. Remember you are a letter to be read from Christ as others observe to read your attitude towards those in your home, and your sphere of life.

[1] Mary Lee Bailey, “Loving Outside the Box” (classroom lecture notes, FAMCS 4803 A – Breakout session of Women’s Conference: Building a Culture of Biblical Femininity in the Home, Church & Community, Fall 2017, author’s personal notes).

[2] This concept is developed by Karen Burton Mains, Open Heart, Open Home (Elgin: David C. Cook, 1976).