Build Your House

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

You are a builder. The question is not if you are building something but rather what you are building with your life.

Each day, you are building with your words, your ambition, your time, and your attention. You may not be creating a literal structure, but you are building your home, your work, and your relationships. Are you building walls or bridges, benches or barricades, shelters or shacks?

When my husband and I purchased our first home five years into our marriage, my initial instinct was to collect design ideas and gather inspiration for how our house would look. As I gathered images of homes unlike the one God had provided for us, my heart was seized with envy. Our cabinets were twenty years outdated, the floors were scuffed, the bathroom vanities had been purchased several seasons ago, and our hand-me-down furniture didn’t match the newest styles.

Rather than seeing this earthly home as a gift to steward, I was laser-focused on what was lacking. I was building my home in discontentment instead of joy in the Lord.

King Solomon wrote, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1, NIV). Though Solomon penned these words thousands of years ago, they hold true today. Women in King Solomon’s time faced the temptation to tear apart what had been entrusted to them, just like we do today.

We are constantly peering into other people’s lives through the internet, social media, and magazine racks at the grocery checkout. We see others’ “houses”—their accomplishments, best moments, and touched-up photos—and we hyperfocus on all the ways our lives don’t measure up. So we try in vain to build copycat lives while simultaneously tearing down what we’ve been given to steward.

Solomon explains that the wise woman builds her house while the foolish woman tears hers down. The key difference between the wise woman and the foolish woman is what she does with her hands. One woman builds her house because she fears the Lord and obeys his Word. The other woman tears down her house because she fears people and sets her hopes on being seen, applauded, and praised by others.

The wise woman follows Christ and builds her life on his Word—a foundation that can never be shaken. Christ is the embodiment of eternal wisdom, the heartbeat of the wise woman’s life. When Christ put on flesh, he modeled what it looks like to build the Kingdom of God. He showed us that wisdom builds bridges that share the gospel. Wisdom builds benches that welcome others with hospitality and grace. Wisdom builds shelters that cover us and others with the promises of God’s Word.

A wise woman uses encouraging words to build up those around her rather than tearing them down. She faithfully lays one brick at a time, looking to the future with hope (see Proverbs 31:25). Instead of building platforms, stages, profiles, and big dreams, a wise woman builds the Kingdom of God, which lasts forever.

Instead of winning friends, a wise woman makes disciples. Rather than obsessing over appearances, a wise woman cultivates a heart of worship. In place of gathering, hoarding, and coveting earthly treasures, a wise woman gives freely what she’s freely received in Christ.

What will you build today?

Word before World The wise woman builds bridges that share the gospel, benches that welcome others in with hospitality, and shelters that cover others with the promises of God’s Word.

Grow in Grace Take inventory of the life you are building. What thoughts consume your mind? What tasks fill up your days? Build your life on Jesus Christ.