Someone has said, “Great women are not born – they are made.” I believe that is true. Every one of you ladies can become a great woman if you choose to do so. Oh, you may not be great in the eyes of the world, but you can be great in the eyes of your house and in the eyes of the Lord. Great women are wise women. This secret is found in Proverbs 14:1. (Read it together).

Transition

This morning, we are going to search the scriptures to see why God made this powerful statement.

God Wants Every Woman to be a Builder

Your “house” is more than a building

  1. It is true; your “house” is your home and estate.
  2. However, the word “house” is used in the book of Proverbs and throughout the Bible to mean much more than just a building. It includes your household.
    Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
    Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
  3. Thus, we can see that it refers to those living in your house including your husband and children, extending even to your grandchildren and servants.

By your actions, you will build or demolish
Whether you know it or not, and whether you want to or not, you are either building or demolishing your house. The choice is up to you.

  1. You can honour your husband or shame him.
    Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
  2. Your life can be a virtue or a vice.
    Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
    Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
  3. You can earn blessings or curses.
    Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
    Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
  4. Your potential is great, but you must act wisely. You cannot do it alone. You need God’s help. Biblical wisdom is the God-given ability to make right choices.

Here are Six Ways You Can Build Your House*

Complete your husband

  1. Wise wives fulfil the role God planned for them as a submissive completer for their husband. You will be truly fulfilled if you live to make your husband all God wants him to be.
    1. Follow his leadership.
    2. Encourage him. Be his cheerleader. Pray for him. Care for him. Work with him. Honour him.
    3. Complete him with a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1Pe 3:4)
  2. Love him. Cherish him. Cheerfully meet his intimate needs (1Co 7:3-5).
  3. Help him in overseeing the household needs.
  4. Forgive his failures (Eph 4:32). Never gossip about him. Lift him up as your hero. Fulfil your God-given role even if your husband fails in his.

Rear your children to be godly

  1. God tells us that all children are foolish by nature.
    Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
  2. Wise mothers weed out the foolishness by consistently following God’s methods of correction. Failure to do so is destructive.
    Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
  3. Children of the wise woman will develop exceptional character, conduct, and reputations.
    1. Wise mothers teach their children to be attentive, obedient, content, neat, respectful, forgiving, grateful, truthful, industrious, orderly, prudent, patient, and virtuous.
    2. Wise mothers teach their children Bible principles, right and wrong, how to be saved, how to pray, and how to walk with God.
    3. Wise mothers teach their children modesty and purity and insure that they practice these.

Be a good housekeeper

  1. The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 is an outstanding example of a housekeeper.
    Proverbs 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
  2. The book of Titus urges young married women to be keepers at home.
    Titus 2:4-5 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
    “Keepers at home” refers to caring for the house, working at home, taking care of household affairs
  3. Keep your home clean, comfortable, and orderly.
  4. Make your home a happy, pleasant, cheerful place to be.

Be careful with your finances

  1. A woman who spends money carelessly is not wise but is tearing down her house.
    1. She is wasting the income God has provided for her family.
    2. Her children are learning her careless ways.
  2. Be a careful shopper. Do not buy designer clothing. Buy in quantity when you are able to save money. Plan ahead. Use a shopping list and stick to it. Avoid buying takeaway meals. They waste money.

Care for your appearance

  1. Be diligent to keep in good physical shape and to maintain a proper weight.
  2. Dress to honour your husband. Seek to look nice for him when he comes home from work.
  3. Choose styles that reflect godly Christian character and honour the Lord. Never wear clothing that will undermine biblical modesty or cause men to take a lustful look at you.

Walk with the Lord

  1. A wise woman will make sure she is a Christian. She will repent of her sin and trust Christ to save her soul. Religion is no substitute. Without Christ as your Saviour, not only will you miss heaven but you will never be the wise woman God wants you to be.
    1. Your husband needs a Christian wife.
    2. Your children need a Christian mother to lead them to God as Timothy’s mother did.
      2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  2. Wise women fear the Lord. They respect, honour and obey the Lord. Fearing the Lord is of greater worth than outward beauty.
    Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
  3. The wise woman spends quality time with the Lord every day, keeps her sins confessed, lives a life of holiness, and has a sweet testimony for the Lord. She is humble, tender, and forgiving. She is an example of godliness and femininity at all times.
  4. A wise woman faithfully attends church and strives to live out what she learns.

Conclusion

Every one of you ladies can become a wise woman if you choose to do so. Will it take work? Sure, it will! Is it worth the effort? Absolutely! You have a tremendous influence on your house (including your husband, children, grandchildren, home, and estate) do not waste it.

Young ladies, make this your goal. Young men, make this your standard when looking for a godly wife. Married men, cultivate these qualities in your wife. Encourage her as she develops.

If you are not 100% positive that you are a Christian, make sure today. That is the first step in building your house.

Song: Take My Life and Let – 393

*Acknowledgement: While I do not endorse all that is on the website, the Proverbs Commentary from “Let God Be True” by Jonathan Crosby was a help in preparing this sermon.

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Building Your House

12 May 2013 AM (Mother’s Day) – Proverbs 14:1 – Scott Childs