The house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish. Proverbs 14:11

The Bible calls us to be aliens and strangers in this world - while we live for a world that is to come.  As you read this verse, you might wonder how it relates to this particular proverb.  It has everything to do with it - because how you are directed - and where you look to receive directions will radically affect your decisions, and will in the end, decide whether you are among the wicked - or the upright.  That decision in turn will have very serious consequences on whether what you do will flourish - or eventually be destroyed. 

The wicked settle down in this world.  This is seen in the fact that they are spoken of as being in a house.  They are very comfortable in this world and comfortable with how this world operates.  Thus this world has a great deal to say about what their values are and how they will live.  When we "settle down" and become comfortable with the world and its ways - we are headed for trouble.  James tells us that anyone who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God.  The world and its ways should make us uncomfortable.  We are looking for the city whose architect and builder is God.  We live for the Jersusalem that is above. 

Do you walk through this life comfortable with the ways of the world?  One of the dangers I see in my life regularly is that through television and the various forms of media - there seems to be a constant push for me to adopt the values of this present world.  If I am not careful I will become so comfortable in this world I will forget spiritual reality (which by the way IS reality itself).  As I become comfortable with the world and its thinking, I will in turn become comfortable with this world and its actions and lifestyles.  Before long, I will begin at first accepting the ways of the wicked - and if I am not careful - acting like them as well.

We are told the opposite in this passage too though.  The tent of the upright will flourish.  Note here that the upright man is spoken of as living in a tent rather than a house.  The tent was the choice of those who did not choose to "settle down" in one place.  They saw themselves not in the light of settling down - but as strangers and aliens who were just passing through this present world.  As a result they do NOT settle down in this world - nor do they adopt its ways.  There is no great need to accumulate the wealth or the things that this world values - because they are transient.  They will pass away - actually we ourselves will pass away - at least in these human bodies of ours.  Therefore we should not seek to get too comfortable in this world - nor become too comfortable with its ways.  Our hearts need to be firmly set on heavenly things.  We need to be living with heaven in view - and realize that our ultimate inheritance is there.  Therefore we also look to heaven and to the Lord who is enthroned there for our values and for what we should seek. 

Please do not see these comments on this proverb as an endictment on buying a house - or as a commentary on how it is better to be a Bedouin than an American.  We are speaking of spiritual realities.  These things represent an attitude - a choice of a lifestyle.  So the question we must answer is not whether we live in a physical house or a tent - but rather whether we are settling down in our minds so that this world is our home - rather than seeing our home in the world to come.  Why is this important?  I guess in a crude sort of way I can refer to a cross stitch I once saw to explain this.  It said, "Home is where the Heart is."  There is the crux of the problem.  If your home is in this world - that is what will most influence your heart.  If your home is in the world to come - where God will reign in righteousness - your heart . . . your values . . . and your lifestyle will reflect it.  Oh, and one last thing . . . if you live for this world - you are living for a world that will be destroyed in the end.  If you live for the world to come - even now God is preparing a place for you - so that where He is - there you will be also. 

Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. Proverbs 27:10

Loyalty is an interesting thing - and something that is not as prevelant in our day.  Too often we don't really know who is living around us - and far too many of us don't have a group of "go-to" friends who will be there for us no matter what.  A wise man knows the value of true friends - and does not abandon them throughout all of life.

Here we see that Solomon tells his son to be a loyal friend.  Don't forsake your own friend - or even your father's friend.  There are blessings that come to us when we have long term friends.  They are there with us in the good and the bad in our lives.  The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that two are better than one - because they have a good return for their labor.  Two when laying down can keep each other warm - and when someone falls - it is always a blessing to have someone to help you to get up off the ground and back on your way.  But then Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, "But woe to the man who has no one to pick him up when he falls."  In closing we read that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Here is why it is good to maintain a loyalty to your friends - and even the friends of your parents.  You need people in your life to help make it strong.  This is especially the case when you fall and have difficult times in your life. 

Having close friends is essential in a society where we don't stay close to family any longer.  The strand ot three cords often cannot include close family - because we don't live close to them any longer.  That is why Solomon tells us that a neighbor who is near is better than a brother who is far away.  When tragedy and trouble strike - they often do so without warning.  In those moments we need someone who can come quickly to our side and offer us comfort and encouragement.  That is the moment when you need the neighbor who is near.  But those kinds of relationships have to be cultivated over time - and that requires both effort and time.  The onset of the television, the internet, and the world where videos and games dominate our time - has led to the lack of skills that are necessary to build long-term friendships - and much necessary fellowship.  We may be able to get an awesome score on whatever Mario game is popular today - or on Halo with some guy from Europe who plays online with us as we attack our imaginary enemies - but we don't seem to be able to walk next door and invite a neighbor over for a meal.  As a result we have multitudes of acquaintenences - but very few close friends.  As a result, we have weak support systems.  We are not a strand of three cords.  Too often we are a single strand just making it in our everyday lives. 

Take the time to make - and keep - close friends.  You probably won't truly appreciate all that they can bring to your life until the moment when you need a neighbor close - rather than a brother far away.  I do not think Solomon is being disrespectful to family.  Family will always come to your aid - at least that was the way I was reared.  But . . . my closest family member is 6.5 hours away.  Therefore I need a neighbor who is near in times of trouble.  They have been there when I needed them.  And their value to me cannot be measured in dollars and cents.  But it can be measured in comfort and encouragement!