The Wise Woman

We live in a day in which women have been stripped of the power that was rightfully theirs.

Ironically, it has been in the name of empowerment that this has taken place.

Women that once held absolute sway over the next generation now come home to children that are determined to rule their own lives.

Women that once held the respect of every man by virtue of their gender now are relegated to a status of “equality.”

Women who were once powerful to impact the course of the world have relinquished there place of power to join the workforce.

Children like Abraham Lincoln who were once carefully and lovingly taught Biblical principles by their mothers have been under the tutelage of others who are diametrically opposed to Christian philosophy.

Men who used to survive their mundane 9-5 workday by looking forward to the well-ordered and loving home, to which they would return at night, now worry that they are losing touch with their families.

Women have come a long way, but it has been at the expense of their own empowerment and value.

God has a better plan for women today.

He wrote it all down and preserved it so that we might never lose sight of the ideal woman.

It is His desire that the woman that He designed take her rightful place in the world.

That is a special place of honor and power that no man can fill.

It is a place that is characterized by beauty and wisdom.

Today I would like to focus specifically on the latter, as I am ill-equipped to help you with the former.

The Word of God draws a distinctive correlation between the concept of wisdom and the woman.

In the book of Proverbs, in which you will find the foolish woman and the wise woman in great contrast, Wisdom is personified as a woman.

As a woman, I believe you are endowed with a special capacity for wisdom and also with the unique opportunity to impact the world with wisdom.

As a woman, you should pray for God to give you wisdom.

You must seek after it, hold on to it, and carefully use it to impact your world.

Our text this morning is primarily motivation for you to seek after wisdom.

You desperately need it, because the world desperately needs you.

One of the passages in Proverbs speaks of the characteristics of the wise woman.

Specifically, we see her activities in the home.

READ TEXT

Proverbs 14:1

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

PRAY

Our text reveals the two basic contrasting activities of two types of women.

The first woman is the woman that is characterized by wisdom.

She sees the world from God’s point of view.

She has asked for and has been granted a special insight into the consequences of her actions, and she has determined to act wisely.

She holds the knowledge and thereby the power to impact her world and her home for the better.

What an amazing and succinct observation about the activities of a wise woman!

She is occupied with the building of her household.

Her constructive activity is the standard to which women in our world should aspire.

Our society rose to its peak on the institution of the family.

It is built on the basic foundation of the nuclear household.

The wise woman in our text occupies herself with constructing and strengthening the foundation of her society.

What an important and meaningful existence!

Ladies, you must seek for wisdom so that you might build your household.

In the same text we see a negative contrast.

We see the foolish woman that is using her power and position to tear down instead of build.

The power of a woman’s tongue is seen here in its most negative light as it is wielded by a foolish woman.

Consequently, she plucks down the very structure that would have given her the most power and influence available to her.

That structure that would give her a worldwide impact is none other than her own home.

Ladies you have the power to make a difference in this world by building your home.

How can this be done?

How can you stabilize your household?

Proverbs 24:3 gives us the answer:

Proverbs 24:3

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

How can a woman infuse value and true wealth into her home?

I am not speaking of financial wealth because that is fleeting and deceptive.

The next verse answers this question:

Proverbs 24:4

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

It all comes back to a desperate need for wisdom.

It all comes back to a wise woman.

It may seem that I am preaching directly to the women this morning, but men your understanding of the value of a woman is essential.

Her wisdom is what you need to be whole.

Her understanding is the secret to a healthy home.

You need her to have this wisdom.

You need her to wield this power.

You should not be threatened by her power to impact the home – you should long for it.

You should relish being a part of her exaltation to this position.

You can help her get there by praying for her, encouraging her and fulfilling your place of leadership so that she can answer her calling to wisdom.

Ladies, Let me petition you this morning to seek God’s wisdom.

James gives us some clear and practical advice to follow when we need wisdom.

James 1:5

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Ask God

This means you realize that you don’t have what you need in and of yourself.

This means you recognize God to be the source of what you need.

Believe in God

This means you know Him to be a loving and generous God.

This means you know Him to be an able and powerful God.

Commit to God

This means you have determined that His way is best.

This means that you have surrendered all selfish or worldly desires.

While this is a formula for getting the wisdom that you need, it is similar to the way we approach God for salvation.

We must believe in Him for salvation

It is with a heart of asking that we approach him for salvation

The repentance that takes place in our hearts indicates an intention to leave our sins behind and turn to him as Saviour.

In a sense, this is a commitment that we make to Him.

The beauty of it is that it is His commitment to us that saves us.

Will you accept Him as your Saviour today?