Tearing Down A Home

Tearing Down a Home

The Foolish Woman

Read: Proverbs 14:1

Myra stared at the empty trash can and gulped. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. The day before, she and Anthony had their first fight as newlyweds. When Anthony clammed up, Myra stalked to their bedroom seething with resentment and frustration. Her eyes fell on his wedding ring, sitting on the dresser as usual instead of on his finger. She had a sudden impulse to drop the ring in the trash can. When he sees it, he’ll realize how hurt I am, and we’ll talk it out. Unfortunately, Myra didn’t consider the possibility that Anthony might empty the trash. The ring was lost.

Sometimes we can be like the foolish woman in Proverbs who tears down her home with her own hands. Destructive choices such as an extramarital affair can be the wrecking ball that does permanent damage to our lives. More often, our habits and attitudes do less obvious harm over time. Attitudes of self-centeredness, jealousy, and criticism chip away at relationships with family and friends. If we neglect to nurture a daily relationship with God, every area of our lives will begin to erode.

By filling our lives with God’s wisdom and looking to him for guidance, we will realize when we’re doing something foolish and destructive. We may have some home repairs to make, such as offering apologies or dropping harmful habits. We may need to do some serious remodeling. Thankfully, God offers help when we need to rebuild our lives. And in case you’re wondering, Myra and Anthony are still married today. As a matter of fact, she gave him a wedding band as a Valentine’s Day gift in 2005. I know this because my first name is Myra and I’m married to Richard Anthony Matthews.

A foolish woman tears [her home] down with her own hands.

Proverbs 14:1