The real question is not who appears successful, but whether I am pursuing one success at the expense of treasures God values elsewhere.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
What Counts As Treasure?
The original recipients of this text obviously understood the rare and beautiful treasures in terms of material things. In the New Testament however, treasures are redefined and they are mainly spiritual: peace, love, family harmony, and similar riches.
It is therefore difficult to determine whose house has its rooms filled with treasure, especially considering that man judges the outside.
A man may seem successful in the ministry of the gospel but make it his idol, pursuing it at the expense of his wife and children. His house's rooms are not filled with treasure.
Success At What Cost?
Another may pursue wealth and get it in abundance, but use it for ephemeral purposes while neglecting his walk with God, his family, and responsible stewardship. The world decorates and celebrates him as wise, but the rooms of his house are not filled with treasure.
The question then is not, which of my neighbors and acquaintances has treasure, but rather, am I pursuing success in one area at the expense of treasures that God values in other areas? And that is where we all need God's grace.
