So Which Woman are You?

It's the middle of February and that means that I am half way done with reading my Bible in 90 days.  I cannot even begin to explain the impact that this "project" has had on me. Reading through Scripture at this pace allows for some amazing (and previously overlooked) truths. My heart is being changed and I cannot wait to turn the last page of Revelation and start all over again. Yes, it's a lot of time and a big commitment, but the nourishment of the Word is like nothing I have ever experienced.

In the last few days, I have been reading in Proverbs.  Wow.  What a way to feel convicted.  If you are ever in need of a little bit of humbling, a little bit of pride-lessening, a little bit of a "you have a long way to go in this journey of pursuing righteousness", try soaking in Proverbs for a few days.  The middle section of the book is a series of juxtapositions...most often contrasting the wicked with the righteous and the wise with the foolish.  If things like giving to the poor and keeping your mouth shut are problem areas in your life or if you struggle with giving in to laziness and empty chatter, this book is the kick in the pants you I need.

Here is one verse, of MANY, that really struck me today:

"A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands." (Proverbs 14:1).

"Hmmmm..." I asked myself.  "What does this mean?  How can one woman build while another tears down?  How can I build my house?  What could I be doing that is tearing my house down?  Why is it that the woman is said to have this power?"

So I dug a little...looked into various commentaries, searching out the reason my spirit was so struck with this verse.  I was convinced the Spirit had something to say to me.  Most commentaries just glossed over this verse.  And then I came to this:

Above all, though, the choice between Wisdom and Folly presents itself as a choice of women, the need to choose a prudent, wise wife.  The son of the Proverbs is being trained to make that choice, and parents, especially fathers, need to train their sons as Solomon did his son. Fathers must teach their sons wisdom, so they can recognize a wise woman when they see one, and desire the wise woman who is, like Wisdom herself, more precious than rubies.

14:1 emphasizes how important this choice is. The state of the house – not, obviously, just the architectural house, but the whole household – depends on the wisdom and folly of the wife. A wise woman will build up, improve, adorn her house in every way; a wise woman will raise children diligently, maintain good order in the home, assist her husband in his calling, give her husband sound advice, manage the wealth of the house carefully, and so on. In all these ways, she is building her house. A foolish woman does the opposite: She is negligent or overly harsh in discipline, too lazy to do keep the house running, demands her own way instead of seeking the good of her home, spends the money of the house badly. A man who chooses a foolish woman is doing damage to his whole life, and a man who chooses a wise woman will be blessed.

Let's take a look at this in list form. 

A wise woman will

• build up, improve, and adorn her house
• raise her children diligently (this is not a "when I feel like it" or "when others are watching" kind of thing)
  
• maintain good order in the home
• assist her husband in his calling
• give her husband sound advice (ie, advice based on Biblical wisdom, not on our wants and desires or on "what everyone else is doing")
• manage the wealth of the home carefully (no wasteful spending...food, books, clothes, movies, treats, toys...oh the ways we women can waste money!)

A foolish woman

• is negligent in her discipline or,
• is overly harsh in her discipline 
• is too lazy to run the house
• demands her own way instead of seeking the good of the home
• spends the money of the house badly

I've got a lot of work to do!  Some of these points hit me hard.  Some of these areas I have already been convicted in and have slowly (yet imperfectly) improved upon. By God's grace, with the strength that He provides, with the assurance that He desires holiness in my inmost being...I will grow to be a wise woman who builds her house instead of tearing it down. I want my husband to be blessed with a woman "more precious than rubies." 

And on a final note...if Christ uses the husband/wife relationship to describe his relationship to the church, how do you think that we, as the church are doing in being a wise wife? Look over those lists again...convicting, isn't it?

Comments

[Darcy]

oh ouch....! :) in a good way...thanks for the reminders! This is a cool program. How long does the reading usually take?

[Amy]

I try to stay away from the Proverbs for that very reason ;) hahah. just kidding, but truly... it is seriously challenging to hear it. but too good to wrestle through.

I'm reading through, but at my own pace, which I think in the end will be quicker than one year but longer than 90 days. I'm loving being in the WORD. It is very much fun to have it come to mind so easily now.

Amy in Peru
http://apilgrimsproject.blogspot.com

[phillipsfamily]

I am a pretty fast reader and it takes me 35-45 minutes, really depending on the material.  The hardest thing was finding a time in the day that worked for me. 

[phillipsfamily]

I agree, Amy.  It is so great to have the Word filling my mind on a regular basis.  I was SERIOUSLY dehydrated when it came to the Word, and it has been refreshing to have the fallow ground broken up and some of it start to sink in.

[Holly Beck]

This is not regarding this last post, although you have my favorite blog to read daily. Thank you for sharing so much of your life. I think its great you are at the Sweet Shoppe now, but I miss the monthly grab bags. Any coming in the future?
Holly in AZ.

[jennyg]

thanks for sharing.....love reading your blog!