A Wise Woman Builds Her House

How Are You Building?

 

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

Oh yes, I’m going there. This series is about Motherhood and women finding their ‘inner mother roar’ and learning how to give it loud and clear by our attitudes, words and especially our actions. We are losing young people, hemorrhaging young people, at an alarming rate; and parents are crying out to the church, “Why?!” And the answer is not necessarily in the church’s hands- it is in ours… the parents. The church is meant to equip and assist the saints, but it is not meant to be mom and dad to our young people. The responsibility of discipling our own children is clearly mandated in the Word of God to be upon us and it is time that we begin to take His carefully laid out family pattern to heart. When we hand that responsibility off to someone else, we have walked away from our God-given position… and you can be rest assured… if you are not the one actively involved in and influencing your child’s life, someone else is -and it is not always for their good.

In the above scripture, we see a comparison between two women- a wise one and a foolish one. Today I want to focus on the wise one the most. What is she doing? She is building. What is she building? She is building her house.

Here we see that a wise woman builds… her house. She builds. I want you to picture a structure being built- first the foundation, and added to that, the frame; and added to that, the flooring; and added to that, the walls; and so on and so forth. The process of building is “adding to”.  If we examine our households, we can always find improvements to be made, from adding to our family’s understanding about God, teaching them about life, working on character issues, running the household on a more efficient basis, being a blessing to our husbands and adding to them daily with our gifts and talents as their partner, etc… building a household and a family will occupy you for a lifetime- if you purpose to do it according to God’s standard -because it is a real and active full-time ministry. I am heartbroken over the condition of  today’s families, even families that are truly trying to be “Christian.” We have the last couple of generations of mothers who seriously are ‘guessing’ at what it means to be a biblical woman, and biblical helpmeet and a biblical mother.

I was one of those women, just shy of a decade ago, asking the question, “Okay, I know what I am supposed to be, but exactly how do I actually do it day-to-day?” Using the scripture, “A wise woman builds her house…” only increased my confusion. “What does that mean?!”, my heart would cry. One thing I did know though, thanks to the Holy Spirit, is that if I was wise, I would be building and not tearing down in my household.

The word used for ‘wise’ in this verse is derived from the root word for wisdom, chokmah.

It means and is used often throughout the bible to represent:

1) wisdom

a) skill (in war)

b) wisdom (in administration)

c) shrewdness, wisdom

d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)

e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

Webster’s 1828 dictionary describes wisdom as:

1. 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, 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 conducive 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.

Wisdom gained by experience, is of inestimable value.

It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom; that they will yield every thing to reason, and refuse every thing to force.

2. In Scripture, human learning; erudition; knowledge of arts and sciences.

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Acts 7.

3. Quickness of intellect; readiness of apprehension; dexterity in execution; as the wisdom of Bezaleel and Aholiab. Exodus 31.

4. Natural instinct and sagacity. Job 39.

5. In Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion; godliness; piety; the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. This is the wisdom which is from above. Psalm 90. Job 28.

6. Profitable words or doctrine. Psalm 37.

The wisdom of this world, mere human erudition; or the carnal policy of men, their craft and artifices in promoting their temporal interests; called also fleshly wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2. 2 Corinthians 1.

The wisdom of words, artificial or affected eloquence; or learning displayed in teaching. 1 Corinthians 1 and 2.

Just reading the Book of Proverbs in the bible shows that God places much value on seeking after wisdom; telling us that it is the principle thing to acquire in our lives if we want true happiness and success. I have read Proverbs many times in my walk with the Lord and no matter how often I pour over those scriptures, there is still treasure to be found, as in all the Word of God! One thing I have noticed about people that are wise is that their opinions are always based on truth as defined in the bible and they are humble in heart to recognize that they may not have all the answers, but they know Who to go to for them. Being wise has great value in today’s world and as a mother I need all the wisdom I can get! Acquiring wisdom is not as difficult as some may make it out to be. Simply put, you must pray and ask God for it (James 1:5), study the scriptures to show yourself approved, and do what the scriptures tell you to do.

Mother, God has wisdom stored up you to know how to build your household in Him! I am always amazed at how the human race seems content to build spiritual ‘shacks’ , yet they would never be satisfied with that in the natural! In today’s world we have rundown shacks for families and all they need is the diligent, attentive TLC of the Word of the Lord! I have never been more aware of this need for wisdom as a mother than of this past year. With the oldest boy getting ready to graduate and go on to his life as an adult, two more teens to raise into manhood, a seven year-old who still needs to be a little boy and a two year-old attached to my hip- I NEED God’s wisdom and ask for it daily, because, let me tell you, my earthly knowledge and opinions just aren’t going to cut it if I want to be fruitful, successful, and victorious in raising godly seed for the kingdom!

My point here is that: There is no building without wisdom. And the sooner we realize that as Christian mothers and fathers, the better off we will be and the better off our families will be.

A wise woman BUILDS.

The word build in this scripture is the Hebrew word, “banah”. It is a verb- elementary grammar lesson here, but ladies, just what is a verb? A verb is a word that denotes ACTION. I always loved verbs growing up because they were always doing something. They were the exciting ones and so I loved finding various verbs to put in sentences, call me crazy, but I love me some verbs!

Banah means:

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

a) (Qal)

1) to build, rebuild

2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)

b) (Niphal)

1) to be built

2) to be rebuilt

3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)

Out of God’s Wisdom, the godly woman builds, re-builds if necessary, causes her family to continue, and establishes her family. As one who builds, it means that you are a builder. I love Webster’s 1828 definition of a builder:

BUILD’ER, n.; build’er: One who builds; one whose occupation is to build; an architect, a ship-wright, a mason.

1. A creator.

Whose builder and maker is God. Heb.11.

 

A builder is also known as a CREATOR. Ladies, long after your body has helped to create a child inside your womb, you are creating life all around you– every day, every moment. We are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), therefore, we create. And He made a point of saying clearly in His Word what a wise woman creates- or builds- it’s her household! The birth of a child is only the beginning of life and the Lord has placed mothers on the frontline to build a life for that child within the context of family and the home.

This week, let’s ask ourselves, “What are we building in our lives?”  “In our family’s life together?”  “How, as a mother, am I building my household” “Am I in need of wisdom for today, have I asked God for it?”

What is the vision God has given you for your family? The word to you today is: Banah! Build, mother, re-build if necessary, but BUILD… do not tear down, build your house and bear fruit for the Lord. Give your wise mother roar and banah!

*** Next Week- We will be wrapping up the Mother Roar Series with a conclusion and prayer!