Building My Home.....

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

 It was the very first verse I read this morning and it stopped me in my tracts.   “Am I building my house or destroying my house?” In what specific areas should I as wife and mother be building my home?  Wanting to understand this verse more, I dug into some commentary.  Matthew Henry’s commentary says, “A woman who has no fear of God, who is willful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down”. Do I fear God?  Does my actions, thoughts, and words show respect, honor and a fear of our Lord?  A woman who is willful is one who lacks self control.  In what possible areas of my life do I lack self control?   Do I practice self control in my relationships? Do I practice self control or show anger to my children?  Do I practice self control financially?  Am I wasteful with my time?

Relationships - Don’t we always tell our children that your friends influence you and to choose wise friends who will build you up?  My husband often tells our children that you are your friends. If you want to know what other people see in you then look at your friends and you will see what you are like.  As a wife and mother, shouldn’t I do the same thing?  Could it be that I have chosen relationships that are tearing me down rather than building me up?  I need to be so careful and wise in knowing that it isn’t just friendships with unsaved people that could tear me down; there may even be Christian friends who are not building me up as well.  Am I careful to be sure that the friendships I have are not destroying my home?

Anger – My fuse tends to be shorter at home than in public.  This can be dangerous in my effort to build my home.   At home we tend to be ourselves  more than any other place.  We feel freer to express our emotions, opinions, and desires.  Sometimes the frustrations of school, activities, relationships, and just the everyday stress of running a smooth home can lead to angry outburst. Yes, as Moms, we need to practice self control in our responses.   

Financially – Am I being practicing self control financially?  This is hard when in today’s world every visit to the grocery store, the prices are higher than the week before.  In what ways can I show self control financially?  I think one of the hardest areas for me is in saying no to the desires of my own children.  When those little big blue eyes look up and beg, it is difficult to say no.  Although, if I choose to not practice self control financially with my own children, then they will not learn financial self control in their own lives.   

Time – Am I spending enough time in God’s Word or am I wasting my time on other things? The reality is that the more time I spend in God’s Word, the closer I will be to Him.  The closer I am to Him, the more conscientious I will be about building me home. 

Lord, help me to be a wise woman who fears you. Show me ways in which I can build my home today rather than tear it down.  I want my family to know that I love you, and that I care about them spiritually. I want this home to flourish.  Use me to make this a home that is pleasing to You; one that honors and glorifies You in our words, thoughts, and actions.