Proverbs 14 Lesson I

"But" - a contrasting conjunction.

No this isn't an English lesson. haha Rather it's a lesson on the contrasting that takes place in Proverbs 14. Have you read chapter 14 realizing how many times "But" is in the chapter. I'm not planning to cover every verse with the contrasting conjunction, but, however I will touch on many of them. Rather than doing it all in one blog insert I'm going to do it in several many.

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. 

When I started reading last month on my daily Proverb is when this chapter really caught my attention. "Every wise woman buildeth her house...." Are you being a builder at home"? "Are you the keeper of home"? Ladies, we are to be the Holy Spirit of the home. What we say, where we go, how we dress, our attitude, our speech, the way we keep house, all these things can build or destroy a home. What are you doing to build your home?

Some of what we should be doing is praising our husband, praising our children, keeping our home clean, being the wife and mother God intended us to be. Most importantly though in order to do and be these things, YOU must be saved, study Gods word and pray. Now we are all human, myself included, and we fail! There will be those days you don't build up your house. Be wise in what you do, shopping, cleaning, cooking.

Lets look at Ruth 4:11 "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem": Ruth built her house and it was seen how she did and the people recognized it as a good thing. When people come to your home, do they see a house that the woman of the house has buildeth or do they see a house that has been destroyed?

Which brings me to the contrast of this verse, "...but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." What exactly is this contrast referring to? It's talking about you criticizing your husband, complaining about everything and everyone in your home, never having things done and so much more. What area are you plucking your house down? Proverbs 31 is a lady who does the wise things and she is praised in the gate, in Ruth 4, there are witnesses that build her up. We need to make sure that our name is not destroyed, maiden or married name. A good name is rather to be chosen….

Are you building up your house make the ___________ and your name one to be known in a good way? Or are you the contrast, BUT, and destroying your home, your family and your name.

As I read through Proverbs 14 there is so much to glean from and learn. I am in no way perfect and most definitely don't claim to be, but I want to be as close to the woman who is praised and known for her works. The "...wise woman buildeth her house...." How about you?

Blessed Beyond Measure !