Friends, Rare and Beautiful Treasures

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4)

Because I’ve been in and out of school every decade of my life, Fall signals a new year to me more so than January 1st. Even Bible studies and small groups and new church series start as the summer programs end. And these new beginnings always seem to result in new friendships, those “rare and beautiful treasures”!

I’ll be honest, I haven’t read the verses before and after the one above. I just felt I needed to write something about “home,” as that’s where God has seemed to be pointing me. For example, Creekside is my home church. It’s where I’ve grown up and grown in my faith and giftings. Where I was sent from with financial blessings and returned to after serving mission work. You all haven’t seen me very often since May because of school and work as I’ve picked up shifts. Yet I consider it my home church despite sometimes visiting other services that fit my schedule better. It’s like a home to me.

This Proverbs verse seems to be a recipe for a happy home: through wisdom it is built, understanding it is established, and knowledge it’s filled. In many ways, community is like the house/home that’s mentioned here. With the wisdom of its members it’s built. Through understanding its history, one another and the community’s collective call, it’s established. And through knowledge of each one of us, the relationships are the rare and beautiful treasures that fill up the rooms. It’s such a beautiful picture!

What makes a home community so special is that last bit, the rare and beautiful treasures. Those relationships that we form through knowledge about one another, gained through fellowship! That’s where I suppose I’m feeling called to, looking for and getting to know a friend, whether new or old—a treasure. Because, I know, that’s how Jesus sees us.