He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Pursuit Of The Wise: Strengthening The Family:
Proverbs 14:1-4
1) Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it
down with her hands.
2) He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways
despiseth him.
3) In the mouth of the foolish [is]
a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4) Where no oxen [are], the
crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.
In
this chapter of Proverbs, the Lord inspires Solomon to give to us a list of
many different pursuits of those who are wise in the Word…
EXPOSITION:
In
this text, we find that wise people will seek to spiritually strengthen their
family…
1) Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it
down with her hands.
The
Bible recognizes the woman as holding the greatest amount of direct control and
influence over those that are in her family. Although the man is said to hold the position
absolute authority, the woman’s role in the family should never be minimized. Here, we find that…
1. a wise woman will spiritually and physically establish,
strengthen and support her children. She
does this by establishing Godly guidelines, instituting Godly practices and instructing
through her words and her examples.
2. a woman who lacks wisdom will root up and
weaken her family by allowing Godliness to become the lifestyle of the family
members.
It
is important to recognize, that although the woman, due to her elevated role in
rearing children, is discussed in this proverb… these basic principles also
apply to the man as well.
“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by
understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the
chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Proverbs 24:3-4)
2) He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways
despiseth him.
1. The person whose lifestyle is lived in
alignment with the desires of the Lord declares His respect and fear of the
Lord.
2. The person whose lifestyle displays a
twisting and perverting of the desires of the Lord reveals his distain, dislike
and disrespect for the Lord and His desires.
Our
lifestyles are living examples of how our family should respect the Lord and
His Word. By living lives of obedience,
we are teaching our children to respect the Lord and His desires… by living
lives of disobedience, we are teaching disrespect for our Lord.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of
man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good,” (2 Timothy 3:2-3)
3) In the mouth of the foolish [is]
a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
1. The speech of the foolish are harmful to
others because they are motivated by pride. They can harm the innocent like a
rod used to drive away the opposition in times of war.
2. The speech of those who are wise are spoken
to build up, correct, and restore to obedience to the desires of the Lord. Because of this, their speech leads to the
physical and spiritual protection of the listeners.
One
of the great roles of parenting is to guide the children through the use of
wise speech. By teaching our children
the truths of God’s Word and the application of it, the parent is equipping the
child to live a lifestyle of peace, security and obedience to God.
“My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even
among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears
and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.” (Psalms 57:4)
“And they overcame him by
the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not
their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
4) Where no oxen [are], the
crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.
1. Where there are no oxen, there is no need to
feed nor clean up after them. By owning
no oxen, it eliminates work and effort for the owner…. However….
2. The stronger the ox, the more work can be
accomplished in the field. There can be
no food grown and no profit made without the ox.
Although
no harvest is immediately gotten, the willingness to labor now by caring for
the ox and laboring in the field…. will lead to reaping a harvest after months
have passed.
Here,
we have a basic principle that should be shared with our children. The need of lawful labor for sppuly our needs
and be profitable in life. Like those
who choose to not own an ox, they are choosing current ease and laziness over
supplying future needs through honest labor now.
“For even when we were with
you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are
some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we
command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and
eat their own bread.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)
SUMMARY:
Those
who are wise, will seek to spiritually equip and strengthen their family. This would include:
1. by establishing Godly guidelines, instituting
Godly practices and instructing through her words and her examples.
2. lifestyles that are living examples of how
our family should respect the Lord and His Word.
3. verbally teaching our children the truths of
God’s Word and the application of it
4. teaching the need of lawful labor for the supply
physical needs and to be industrious in life.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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