It’s probably too late to put this old house in order. We see signs of decay all over it:

• Weeds, trees, and vines growing near and on it
• Cracks in the wood, windows, and door
• Parts of it leaning, preparing to fall

To put your house in order, you try to return everything to good condition. You don’t usually mean a house. You may want to:

• Get your finances in good shape.
• Improve your behavior.
• Prepare for death.

We see the last meaning in Isaiah 38:1 when Isaiah told King Hezekiah, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die.”

Sometimes when people criticize you, you might say, “Put your own house in order.” This tells them to solve their problems instead of criticizing you.

All of us have problems. We can prevent many of them. With houses, we can:

• Keep weeds, trees, and vines cut.
• Repair cracks as soon as they appear.
• Keep the foundation and support strong.

With our lives, we can:

• Avoid harmful activities.
• Correct mistakes as soon as they occur.
• Make God our foundation.
• Help one another stay strong.

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:25 NIV).

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