Wisdom

Wisdom

A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.

Proverbs 14:1

What is a wise mom like? She has discernment for things that are true, right, and lasting.

1. Things that are true are consistent with fact or reality. A wise woman knows truth is found in God’s Word, and she spends time there regularly. She’s also willing to see things the way they really are; for example, she doesn’t pretend that she or her family members are faultless.
2. Her discernment for things that are right helps her to practice justice with the people around her. This means she treats them fairly and with full appreciation.
3. She values things that last. Some things last longer than others, but two things that will endure forever are God’s Word and people’s souls. The wise woman values both, and the way she orders her life reflects that.

In contrast to the wise woman, a foolish woman tears down her home by

1. closing her eyes to the truth and denying the way things really are;
2. being neglectful, unfair, and unappreciative of those around her;
3. neglecting the things that last (God’s Word, the souls of her family, and the souls of people around her) and spending great amounts of time on temporal things.

Taking a serious look at these two types of women is sobering and prompts us to think about how we want to build up our home.

Father,

Please forgive us for times when our choices do more to tear down than to build. May we be moms who, with the help of your Spirit, make choices to build wisely with truth and justice, and may we use our time, energy, and money for things that are lasting. Amen.