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“The
wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands
the foolish one tears it down” Proverbs 14:1(NIV).
The
other morning I woke in a terrible mood. It had been
a long weekend and I was exhausted. My alarm clock sounded
at seven but it felt much earlier. Getting out of the
shower I slipped on my Uggs and my cranky face. The
world was going to know that I was having a bad day.
Every shirt I tried on was terribly uncomfortable. I
must have thrown at least three into the give away box.
If I could just have the perfect wardrobe where everything
fit, was comfortable and coordinated then I would never
be in a bad mood. I couldn’t wait for someone
to say good morning, I was prepared to say a big “nothing”
to whom ever it was.
Unfortunately
for my bad mood the first to venture across my path
was my mother, a Godly woman with a heart for prayer.
My one-word responses didn’t get very far as they
met a wall of grace, peace, and prayer. During the small
window of opportunity the Spirit brought to mind this
verse, “The wise woman builds her house, but with
her own hands the foolish one tears it down” Proverbs14:1(NIV)(1).
Suddenly I saw myself, hardhat and all, sitting at the
controls of a giant wreaking ball, the foolish women.
Stopped in my tracks I had a choice to make, was I going
to be foolish or wise? If I was going to be wise my
only hope was to run to the Lord’s feet, repent
and immerse myself in Him.
During
a radio broadcast titled “A Foolish Woman’s
Focus”(2) host and author Nancy Leigh DeMoss described
the house that we build as being the “sphere(s)
of influence that God has given (us)”. Although
I don’t have a physical home of my own to build,
God has put me in charge in my work place and he has
placed many in my life both family and friends. Was
I going to continue to build up all that He has so graciously
given to me or destroy it? Over the last few months
the Lord had really been helping me to live in reality
and not in my head (something many creative people struggle
with). The Lord has been encouraging me to stand upon
His goodness and to trust him enough to put my head
down and work. I had been reaching and gathering all
the blessings that before I had missed and now in one
day I was tempted in my flesh to tear it all down.
It wasn’t that I meant to tear it all down but
it is as author DeMoss says about Proverbs 14:1, “there
is no middle ground, you are either building up or tearing
down”. If a verdict was read at that moment I
was completely guilty of the later. I did not see the
destructive power behind my bad mood. What happens with
the foolish woman? DeMoss explains, “She doesn’t
just keep her foolishness in her heart, it comes out
and it is highly destructive in its influence.”
It’s true, the things that are considered “foolishness”,
i.e. bad moods, complaining, and the like, these things
don’t just stay in our hearts. We have an unhealthy
need to share them, to let the world know that we are
bitter, and to bring others down with us.
I
asked the Lord to show me more ways that others or I
act as foolish women. He began to show me the things
that are destructive in our jobs and to those around
us: gossip, jealousy, constant comparing, fear, laziness,
idolatry and the list goes on. These things breed anger
and bitterness towards others and God. We get competitive
with our friends and completely self-centered. If Christ
had come to earth for only himself we would have all
been left to the lake of fire, but he didn’t,
he came to do the Father’s will and build up His
kingdom on earth.
Matthew
Henry3, in his commentary on Proverbs 14:1, writes about
the wise woman’s family, “…the family
has comfort within doors and credit without; thus is
the house built”. Do my family, my literal and
my spiritual family, and my co-workers find comfort
when they are around me? When they go out of my presence
will they be able to hold their head up because I have
spoken well of them? Have I done what I can to equip
them and worked to keep them from ill will? I build
up everyone and everything in my sphere of influence
when I believe God is in control, when I trust him to
be good, when I serve others, putting them first, encouraging
and loving them.
I
cant be a wise woman when I don’t turn first to
the Lord. Each morning I wake with foolishness at my
fingertips and wisdom at my heart’s door. To build
or tear down each day is a choice. “The wise woman
builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish
one tears it down” Proverbs 14:1(NIV).
Written
by: Brooke Heidi
Bibliography
1. “Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION.
Copyright p1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
2. DeMoss, Nancy L. “A Foolish Woman’s Focus”,
Becoming a Women of Discretion. www.reviveourhearts.com.
9 February 2004. 25 January 2005.
.
3. Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Proverbs 14."
Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter
Bible. 01 Mar 1996. 26 Jan 2005.
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