Reading notes - week 36

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
Proverbs 14:1


Whenever I read this verse, the Spirit probes....where am I building wisely?  And where am I manifesting destructive foolishness?  Let's unpack this Truth and see how a wise woman builds...

First of all, if there is any woman tempted to think that God values men more than women or that a man's role according to Scripture is superior to that of women, then take a look at this verse!  The power of building and destroying is in the hands of woman.  Wisdom builds...and foolishness destroys.


What is a wise woman?  According to Scripture, a wise woman


1.fears the Lord (Psalm 111:10)
2. listens to instruction (Proverbs 8:33)
3. prioritizes wisdom (Proverbs 2:3-5)
4. forsakes sin (Proverbs 9:6)
5. is not obnoxious/boisterous (Proverbs 7:11/9:13)
6. speaks truth (Proverbs 10:11)
7. does not slander (Proverbs 10:18)
8. exercises verbal restraint (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)  (Proverbs 10:19)
9. does not readily make her displeasure known (Proverbs 12:16)
10.does not embarrass her husband (Proverb 12:4)


This kind of woman builds her house --- adds value to her household, puts the pieces of her family together, constructs a home (physically, emotionally, spiritually) of beauty.




 But a foolish woman....
One who
1.  does not reverence God and His commands
2.  will not receive instruction
3.  make things like fame or money or popularity her priority
4.  refuses to confess and forsake sin
5.  desires to focus attention on herself, is unruly and rowdy
6.  is deceitful
7.  gossips
8.  speaks her mind without discretion
9.  is known to "tell you off" when crossed
10. brings dishonor to her husband by the way she lives, dresses, speaks


This woman tears down her home.  Destroys the lives and potential of her family.  Ruins the peace and prosperity of her household.


With her own hands.


The last thought on this verse is the word for hands.  The meaning for the Hebrew word used to pen this truth connotes "strength, power, assistance, place, time".  That's intriguing to me.  "Strength, power, and assistance" are no surprise....but conveying the idea of "place and time" is.  This makes it very clear, I think, that wise women are those who prioritize their homes with not only their energy but also their presence and attention.


What an encouraging thought - we can change our homes through the way we live.  We will change our home by the way we live.  We will either make it better....or we will tear it apart.