I love Proverbs 14:1, and meditate on it constantly. Proverbs 14:1 says, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” I think there are so many ways that you can practically apply this verse to a woman’s life. Regardless of what you choose to do… whether you are a stay at home mom, doctor, teacher, lawyer, or secretary, we all have our own home. You can also apply this to your personal body and self because the Bible also says that your body is His temple. We can apply this to our lot in lot- careers and relationships. As women, we have a great work to be done. Let’s talk about a few principles of building your future.
*A wise woman doesn’t necessarily have a perfect life; but a wise woman will go into every situation looking to see how she can build up and not tear down.
Many times others will look at someone with a great marriage, and think how beautiful it is, never considering the blood, sweat, and tears put into that marriage to make it great!
Some others will look at a lady with a beautiful home and beautiful children, and maybe think she just arrived in life with great luck; never considering the prayers and sacrifice given to make her life great. Others will look at a lady entrepreneur and think I could have that too if I just had her money or her business sense; never considering the amount of study and lack of sleep needed to make a great business.
Also, I read this verse also in Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 4 which reads, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”
Sometimes the more successful you become the more mess you have to deal with.~Jackie Carr
If one did not have a field of horses, of course they would not have a field of manure. Nevertheless, without the horses they would not have their livelihood.
In other words, when I first began having children I would become discouraged working in the house and at the end of the day my house would not be as clean as I would have liked. My husband reminded me that one day when my house was sparkling clean because my children are grown and gone that I would miss the sound of my children’s laughter and playfulness.
I am in no way comparing my work to a field of manure lol!!, but in every area of work, we will have to sort through the good and easy, and the difficult and bad.
*A wise woman is not perfect, but she is upright.
(She is simply looking up to the One Who is her help and strength.)
“…the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.”(Proverbs 14:11b.)
David said about himself that he was upright. He knew that he wasn’t perfect, but he knew that his heart’s desire was Jesus. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” (Psalms 42:1) We must simply look to Jesus, and many problems will fix themselves.
*A wise woman creates an environment for flourishing.
Always look for ways to grow, learn, and be productive.
It’s not shameful to say that you do not know everything, nor should we act like we know everything.~Jackie Carr
I told my Sunday class Sunday morning that if you go to Home Depot, there are many different sections in the store with different people that know their expertise. Now there are some people that just know how to do a lot of things. Although, when we built our home, we had a crew that did the electrical, we had a different crew that did the floors, and we had another crew that did the plumbing. I could go on and on.
It’s very wise to learn and read from other gifted people.
Also, by nature I am not the most organized person so if I am going to have an environment for flourishing I have to work extra hard at cleaning and organizing my home. I feel that it is very important for my husband, who is an assistant pastor, to have a home that is in order. So, I have to be brutal on my house-cleaning day. I have to walk around with a large black bag and throw many things away or donate them!
*A wise woman must be prudent!
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent looketh well to his going.” (Proverbs 14:15)
As a new mom you receive much advice from many good people, sometimes so vastly, extremely different. I tried to receive all the advice graciously, but sift every piece of advice through the Word of God. ~Jackie Carr
*A wise woman will walk about seeing how she can do good.
“Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.”(Proverbs 14:22)
When life gets messy or there is drama, look to see how you can do good in that situation. Look for the good! Do not be the one who always first finds the negative. My husband has said before to the teenagers, “I may not be the smartest and most talented person, but I can be good to people.”
*A wise woman will surround herself with hard-working people.
“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” (Proverbs 14:23)
Don’t surround yourself with talkers, but associate yourselves with movers and shakers. ~Jackie Carr
*A wise woman’s work will speak for itself.
“ The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.” (Proverbs 14:24)
The following verses I meditate on for honoring my husband and family are the following:
“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” (Proverbs 12:4)
“Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:31)
The virtuous woman was continually busy trying to meet the needs of her household.
For every woman this could mean something different. The virtuous woman made sure her family was dressed and ate well. Her husband was held in high honor in the community. He had no worries because of the emotional and physical strength of his wife. She was always busy and industrious. She also gave to the poor and needy. She had a vision for her future.
I know every time I study the virtuous woman or the Proverbs 14:1 woman, I find myself lacking. Although, I am so thankful for the Lord’s grace and how He continues to patiently teach us how to bloom where we are planted, if we are willing.
I hope you will find this post to be an encouragement to you, and help you to establish some basic principles of building your future.
Love, Jackie
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