A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Proverbs 14:1 ‘A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.’
I believe no woman in her right mind intentionally tears down her home. Those who do so act in lack of understanding, sheer ignorance, and foolishness. Wisdom is everything in life. It spares us a lot of heartache and needless loss of the things we hold dear.
Wisdom is more precious than anything of great value. Nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in the right hand, and riches and honour in the left. Her paths are delightful, and her ways satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.
Wisdom comes from God. The word of God equips us for every good work, which includes building our homes. God gives us wisdom so we can live lives that please Him. In the absence of wisdom, we can deal with life recklessly, let our emotions toss us to and fro.
Wisdom is not just an accumulation of the right information; it is also the ability to apply it in one’s life. Hence the need to get understanding. Understanding cements your commitment to make wise choices and stick with doing the right thing even when you don’t feel like it.
Wisdom builds her house and has it firmly set on a foundation of seven strong pillars. When you embrace wisdom, it will lead you to riches, honour, enduring wealth and prosperity, (Proverbs 8 and 9). Wisdom serves rare delicacies. Her meals leave you full and satisfied – intoxicated with joy and peace.
Whether it be a man or material possessions, you will need wisdom to get them and keep them. A wise woman understands the need for acquiring and walking in wisdom.
A wise woman builds her home by:
- Submitting to her husband.
This is not a choice, but a command to obey. It is not something she does only if her husband deserves it. She recognizes that wives are commanded to submit to their husbands in spite of their attitude or behaviour.
Ephesians 5:22; Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
- Being blameless and pure.
She is committed to living a blameless and pure life, endeavoring to be at peace with everyone. Her actions are consistent with the faith she professes, engaging only in what is pleasing to her Lord.
Philippians 2:14-15; Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crocked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.
- Maintaining wholesome speech.
She doesn’t open her mouth to speak just anyhow. When she speaks, her words are seasoned with grace. Her language is clean and edifying. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue. From her servants to people she works with, to her own husband and children, she treats everyone with kindness, humility, and respect.
Ephesians 4:29; 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.
- Being reverent in the way she lives.
She doesn’t live a careless life. Her ways are honourable and respectable before God and man. She conducts herself in a fashion that is beyond reproach and her behavior does not violate God’s Word. She dedicates herself to develop others to good works.
Titus 2:3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
- Loving her husband and children.
She does not withhold good; her time and attention, and whatever is good from her husband and children. She doesn’t delegate or neglect the core aspects of loving her family. She greatly enriches their lives.
Titus 2:4; Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children.
- Interceding for them.
She prays for her husband and children. She commits them to the Lord, careful not to leave anything that concerns them to chance.
1 Samuel 25:18-35 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys…..
- Allowing her husband to be the head.
She does not compete for leadership with her husband. She allows her husband to be the head, while being a great support to him to help him fulfill his vision.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, his body.
- Teaching and training her children.
She teaches and trains her children in the way that they should go, thereby ensuring that they do not go astray and lose out in life. She disciplines them, thus driving foolishness far from her children, and preparing them to succeed in life.
Proverbs 22:6; Start off children the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
- Being tender-hearted.
She listens to her children, reassures and encourages them. She showers them with love and affection, both physically and verbally. This woman openly and extravagantly expresses love to her children. She approves, accepts and affirms them, hence building their self-worth and confidence.
Isaiah 49:15 Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.
- Being a crown to her husband.
She represents her husband well; he is well spoken of and esteemed. She does not disrespect or dishonor her husband.
Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
- Paying attention to her appearance
She does not take her husband for granted. She pays close attention to her appearance, both during the day and at night. She enjoys looking her best and makes an effort to stay attractive to her husband.
Proverbs 24:3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
- Being a home maker.
She takes charge of her household. She carefully watches over everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. She organizes her home and cultivates good taste in her household, turning her house into a home.
Proverbs 24:4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Realize that sense is not common. Educate yourself in order to have good sense in managing practical matters. Learn the value of discretion. Good judgment and sensitivity to others are rare, but highly esteemed traits.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding Proverbs 4:7.
Lillian Chebosi