Building Up or Tearing Down Our Homes
Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.
Proverbs 14:1
(Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible interpretation of this verse with my additions in parenthesis.)
Every wise woman buildeth her house,…. Not only by her fruitfulness, as Leah and Rachel built up the house of Israel (by bearing and raising children); but by her good housewifery (keeping their homes clean and tidy), prudent economy (spending their husband’s money carefully); looking well to the ways of her household (making sure everyone is well-fed, well-clothed, and well-loved); guiding the affairs of her house with discretion (she shows the love of Christ to all who live in and visit her home and she makes sure no evil enters into her home so it will not be defiled); keeping all things in a good decorum (taking good care of what her family owns so that it lasts a long time); and bringing up her children in virtue, and in the fear and admonition of the Lord (reading the Word to them, having them memorize scripture, and teaching them continually about the ways of the Lord).
…but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands; the Vulgate Latin version adds, “being built”; this she does by her idleness and laziness (entertaining herself instead of keeping a clean and tidy home); by her lavish and profuse way of living (spending more than her husband earns); by her negligence and want of economy (wasteful and not careful with what her family owns); by her frequenting playhouses, and attention to other diversions (constantly on her iPhone, the Internet, or watching TV); and so her family and the affairs of it go to wreck and ruin.
So likewise all false teachers do as this foolish woman does, by their impure lives and impious doctrines, defile the temple of God, subvert the faith of many; by means of whom the tabernacle of David, or house of God, is fallen down; the ruins and breaches of which Christ will repair in the latter day.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Corinthians 13:5
“The home is powerful. If it were not an important institution, the enemies of God and of man would leave it alone. The people who control the home control the future, parents are the first representatives of God on earth, within the home is the hope of morality”. (Fr. Daniel A. Lord)
7 thoughts on “Building Up or Tearing Down Our Homes”
Excellent
Thanks for the encouragement. I would add how important it is for others entering our home to see a visible dedication of the home to God and His Word. I love having scripture displayed throughout my home.It is a constant reminder to us to not allow things that would be dishonoring to our Lord to enter our homes. And, as keepers – at- home, we are literally home guards or house- despot, sort- to- speak.
I’m confused about the term “his” money. I wanted to be at home raising my children and making our house a real home and did exactly that. I honored and submitted to my husband and we have a wonderful marriage. However he considered any all money that he earned as “ours” as I was working in the home raising Godly children as well as making our home a haven and shelter for him and our children.
Amen Holly. We have scripture all over our house too.
I agree ‘Happy at Home’. I think the main problem with couples today is when their start reffering to any income as ‘his money’. Or ‘her money’. Next thing you know it leads down the path to divorce. Financial disagreements are oneof the biggest reasons for divorce nowadays. And i think it all starts with a label like that.My husband may earn it. But we both reap the benefits but the truth is, its not ‘his money’, ‘her money’, or ‘our money’ at all. Its Gods money.we need to make sure we are good stewards of it.
I don’t care at all about calling it “his money” since he’s the one who worked so hard for it. Yes, he is extremely generous with me but I believe women became offended at this phrase because of feminism and “equality.”
My reaction has absolutely nothing to do with feminism. I am married to a wonderful Christian man who constantly thanks me for what I do at home. He loves knowing that while he faces the stresses of the world at work, he knows I am taking care of our home and raising our children in a Godly way. As a man who loves me as Christ loves the church he continually makes it clear that the money he earns is ours and he is so grateful to be married to someone he can trust to use it wisely.