If our walls could talk, they sure would have a lot to say! Have you ever thought about that? What do you think they’d say? Oh, we’re not talking about the private moments between husband and wife where certain things should be kept private between them and God. We’re talking over-all, what would they say?

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

So, is your home being built through understanding and gaining knowledge of the ways of the Lord? The principles for loving each other are the principles for living written throughout the Bible. If the walls of your home could talk, what would they say about how YOU PERSONALLY conduct yourself within your marriage relationship?

You can’t control your spouse. You can suggest, talk about, hope and pray that your spouse will act in a manner worthy of the Lord’s calling for how they treat you as their spouse — their partner in life. But you can’t MAKE them live by God’s standards for living.

So, our message is addressed to you personally. The Bible says, “If it is possible, AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON YOU, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). And that includes your spouse!

The question that we place before you (as we place it before ourselves) is: “If the walls in your home could talk, AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS UPON YOU, what would they say?”

• If the walls of your home could talk… would they speak of your faithfulness in your marital relationship? The Bible says: “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well” (Proverbs 5:15).

Even if your spouse is unfaithful, it doesn’t give you the right to be unfaithful in how you conduct your life. “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:12-14).

• If the walls of your home could talk… would they say that you build up and encourage your spouse? The Bible says in Proverbs 14:1: “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish tears hers down.” Don’t allow your words and attitudes to tear down the spirit of those who dwell within your home. And that goes for men as well as for women!

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:29-32).

Jesus said, “A household divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25). Are you a builder or a destroyer?

• If the walls of your house could talk… would they testify that Jesus is Lord of your life and that you bring strength into your home? “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

• If the walls of your home could talk… would they say you’re a quarrelsome person —picking ungodly arguments in the way you act out what’s bothering you? “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife” (Proverbs 25:24).

And that doesn’t let men off the hook in this type of situation: “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).

• If the walls of your home could talk… would they say that the Lord dwells within them and that your life is a window in which others can clearly see the love of Christ displayed? “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

“You show that you are a letter from Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

• If the walls of your home could talk… would they testify that there is at least ONE person who lives within your home that is pressing forward to live faithfully, communicating the Gospel with and without words? Are you a light to your spouse, your children, your neighbors, and everyone who comes in contact with you?

• Do you learn from your mistakes and do you confess to God and those you offend, asking for forgiveness and working with God to stop this behavior? Are you living an authentic life in Christ?

We’re asking you these questions to both challenge and urge you to consider your personal walk with the Lord and your walk within your home —which should be consistent in how your faith is lived out. These are questions we ask ourselves and pray the Lord will help ALL of us to live faithfully to the end of our lives here on earth.

Jesus said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built” (Luke 6:46-48).

That is our prayer for all of us — that we will build our marriages, our homes, and our lives on the strong foundation set forth through Jesus Christ!

Cindy and Steve Wright