Proverbs: The Wisdom of God's WordSample

A Foundation of Faith

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous stands firm. — Proverbs 12:7

One of my favorite childhood stories was “The Three Little Pigs,” probably because of the way that my father made me laugh when he huffed and puffed like the wolf trying to blow the houses down. Back then, the story was just entertainment for me. But when I read it again as an adult, I appreciated the meaning behind it. It wasn’t luck that kept the third pig’s house standing, but the time and effort he invested in building something strong. His brothers opted to build quickly and easily so that they could go play and have fun, and consequently, ended up with unstable homes.

This story reminds me of this verse from Proverbs which says, “The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.” While the wicked may appear to have all the fun, the lives that they create are incredibly vulnerable. In one instant, everything can be destroyed.

However, the righteous have a special godly protection. Since the righteous have built their lives on the solid foundation of faith, biblical values, morals, and teachings, they can withstand any adversity. God will keep them standing. In the Christian Bible, Jesus taught his followers the same principle in the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27).

Notice that both in the story of the three pigs and in real life, everyone encounters troubles that threaten to topple us. The “big bad wolf” will come and try to blow down everyone’s house whether they are righteous or wicked. Yet, while we all go through difficult times, we don’t all come out of them the same way.

When someone builds their life on lies—when it is founded on faulty beliefs and misplaced values—their existence is extremely precarious. If they face financial challenges, they might lose their sense of wellbeing and capacity for hope. If they encounter uncertainty in any area of life, they might completely implode. If you don’t have God as your foundation, what will keep you standing?

However, we can choose to build our lives on the solid foundation of faith, obedience, and biblical values. And when we do, we will be able to weather any storm. Our house will stand, and we will emerge stronger than ever before.