What does Proverbs 24:3 mean?

The lesson of this proverb applies well beyond literal buildings. Any effort benefits from the application of wisdom. Businesses do well to use common sense and ethical practices. A wise parent builds a strong family by teaching the children to fear the Lord and to walk in His ways. While godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) does not magically guarantee success, it gives the wise person a much better chance at happiness. Evil, sin, and foolishness most often lead to ruin (Proverbs 8:32–36). An earlier proverb pointed to God's own creation as evidence of the benefit of wisdom (Proverbs 3:19). His masterful application of truth is on display in nature (Psalm 19:1); a person who wields a wise, godly approach sets themselves up for success.

Like the sensible man who built his house on a solid foundation (Matthew 7:24–25), a wise person undertakes an enterprise and launches it successfully. Solomon wisely built the temple in Jerusalem that his father David was not allowed to build. Therefore, Solomon is a prime example of building a structure by wisdom. Habakkuk 2:9–12 pronounces woe on the person who builds a house or town for selfish gain and commits violence to do so. The Lord will judge that person and his work.

Psalm 127:1 affirms that the "contrapositive" of this proverb is also true. Contrapositives are statements where both the inputs and outputs are reversed while the statement remains true. Good wisdom builds a house; an effort undertaken without trust in the Lord is doomed to eventually fail: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."