Sunday, November 7, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 14:1-3, we learned about the importance of choosing wisdom and uprightness. Solomon wrote that wise women build their house and that foolish women pluck their house down. With those words, he was probably talking about the role of the woman within the family and within her own life. A wise woman can put together a good, godly home, even in a difficult environment. Many times, the woman is the one who has wisdom in the handling of family finances. Usually, the woman, as mom, has insight into the needs of her children. As wife, she has insight into the needs of her husband. The Bible would say that a wise woman is one who seeks after the Lord, while a foolish woman is one who does not. A foolish woman does not look to the needs of her home, and the result is that the home often crumbles. Proverbs 11:16 says, "A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches." Proverbs 31:30 says, "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
In these verses from Proverbs 14, Solomon also wrote about the importance of choosing uprightness and living right. The virtuous woman seeks God and lives right, as does the virtuous man. The perverse person, on the other hand, does not. Perverse comes from the Hebrew word that means crooked, devious, or wrong. In Matthew 22:37-39, the Bible commands us to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. The perverse person lives in violation of that commandment and will, as a result, suffer the consequences. Proverbs 12:8 says, "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised." Proverbs 17:20 says, "He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief." Throughout the Book of Proverbs, the general teaching is to pursue righteousness, associate with righteous people, and forsake the evil and perverse. Foolish pride is a first step down. Those who are foolish with their tongue are on a downward path. Proverbs 16:18-19 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Practice wisdom and speak wisely. Those who follow these simple instructions will be blessed in all that they do.
As you go through the coming week, examine yourself critically from God's perspective and make any necessary changes to your lifestyle. Self-examination is an important step towards becoming the person that God would have you be, and it is a vital part of gaining godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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