The wise woman builds her house

          I believe it is extremely important for a woman to begin to build her house in her youth. According to several Proverbs I have drawn out several key elements as an example for me in my endeavor to build my house. 

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”(Proverbs 31:30) 

          The fear of the Lord is mentioned so many times in scripture and normally is accompanied with a long list of benefits and yet often times we overlook the fear of the Lord and focus on another attribute of God, especially his love.  I think it is extremely important to build on the fear of the Lord first, as it sets the foundation of being a servant of Christ and living a Holy and blameless life before an AWESOME God! I think it puts things back into perspective on who is serving whom in the relationship between God and man. When we are living a balanced life between being completely in love with our Savior and having that close friend relationship, but still knowing that He is a Holy God who will judge the earth, we will find great peace. 

          “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)  As a woman, I love words like “secure, fortress, refuge, and children” so this verse really stood out to me! I want to provide my children with refuge; I want to lead them in a life of complete dependence on the Lord where they can have that total peace knowing our God is for us, He is our defender.  I need to fear the Lord and set that example as His humble servant!

        

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. (Proverbs 14:1)

          I noticed that in the Proverbs 14:1 verse it says that the wise women “builds”, that is a verb which means it is an action. Also in Proverbs 31 there are several places where it talked about her working with her hands and physically being active in her work not just planning or dividing her work up between the day care worker, her house cleaner, and her lawn guy etc.  In the end of verse 13 it says “and works with eager hands” I really like that her hands are eager, not just going about doing her chores with necessity, but that she has that energy and purpose in what she does. I think my favorite verse is 17 “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task…” I want to have that same energy and passion in my work! 

         Take note that it does not say, the wise woman that “built” her house, it says “builds” which means it is ongoing. Sometimes we want to do something and have it stay done for a while; unfortunately this is an unrealistic goal. Especially with children we see that training is not a one-time thing.  It would be nice if we could just tell our children all there is to know and they actually understand it and put it into immediate practice! HA! it makes me laugh just thinking about that! No, child raising and training takes a constant source of love, energy, enthusiasm, instruction, consistency and correction. This is a process that will be a never ending one if a girl wants to be a godly sister, wife, mommy, grand-mommy and great-grand-mommy! We will always be working hard in the process of building our house! I want to do it with the vigor, passion, energy and the strength of the woman modeled here.

The third thing that stands out to me as an example is that in both cases, the woman that builds her house (chapter 14), and the wife of noble character (chapter 31) are both women of wisdom. Wisdom is something that is almost becoming extinct in the world of teenage girls today. In fact, I am afraid that most would not even know what that word means anymore. To show how far we have come from understanding what wisdom is, I looked it up in Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary and a modern Webster’s dictionary just to explore the contrast. 

Here is the 1828 Dictionary: “WISDOM~The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, in effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conductive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion, it differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus.”

           Here is modern day definition: “WISDOM~A accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge B  ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight. C good sense : judgment D  generally accepted belief”

Wow, that contrast is huge! If we were to live according to the wisdom of today, which is in some cases just a “generally accepted belief” we would be a basket case! True wisdom comes from the Lord and from the Lord alone! In the Bible it tells us to seek for it as for hidden treasure and to value it above precious stones. If we want wisdom all we need to do it look for it and we will find it, ask for it and God will give it to us. For our Father likes to give us good and perfect gifts! Wisdom is one of those good gifts! But we have to be proactive in seeking it out! If I had time I would go into what the opposite of wisdom is and what that looks like.  The opposite of wisdom ties into the foolish woman tearing her own house down. It is a devastating thought which is sadly a reality today! I want to seek God and ask him to bless me with wisdom so that “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

These are some of my goals from the Biblical examples in the foundational stages of building my house! 

From a grateful daughter,

                                  Paulina Marie