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WIFE OF WISDOM OR WOE? Proverbs 11-19. MOTHER’S DAY 2024
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor, but ruthless men retain riches. 22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
1. Sweet and swine
a. The Word is full of contrasts and comparisons: good vs. evil; wisdom vs. folly; humility vs. pride; honorable vs. disgraceful; diligence vs. sloth; charity vs. greed; helpfulness vs. apathy; truth vs. lying…
b. Proverbs is full of contrasts, including about men and women (a choice of behavior – Genesis 4:7)
c. These proverbs contrasts the gracious woman vs. the indiscrete woman
a1. A gracious woman bestows goodwill on others, particularly, those in need
a2. A gracious woman I worthy of praise and recognition
d. The indiscrete woman, even though she is attractive, is like decorating a pig
a1. Discretion = reasoning or judgment
a2. An indiscrete woman lacks judgment
e. I Peter 3:1-3 a woman who emphasizes outward appearance over holiness lacks wisdom and opens herself to folly, deception, and sin
f. No matter her personality, she has a choice
2. Crown or caustic
a. Unfortunately, many marry for physical attraction, security, or just the desire to be married
b. Few people end up being spiritual spouses
c. A virtuous godly wife is a rare treasure
a1. She brings honor to her husband and he is joyful to have such a wife
a2. He honors her and seeks to please her
d. By contrast, a shameful wife is an embarrassment, causing grief, sorrow, and even physical stress
a1. The wife who gossips, nags, fusses, embarrasses, rails, and rants burdens him
a2. By choosing her own selfish desires and ungracious demands, she ruins her house
e. A wife can be a crown or a canker to her husband
3. Busy Hands
a. A wife has a choice to either build her house or destroy it; to enhance her family or hinder it
b. A wife can honor and be a support to her husband or tear him down and provoke him
a1. She can set an example to her children and train them in the ways of the Lord
a2. She can choose to be selfish and ungodly
c. The wife has a choice to focus on honoring God or pursuing her own selfish desires
d. A wise woman focuses or serving God by serving her husband and family (anything else is evil)
4. A gift from God
a. He who finds a true wife finds a good thing
a1. A wife as defined by Genesis 2:24 is a helper, companion, lover, and mother
a2. Titus 2:3-5 she has affection for her husband and children and is a chaste keeper of the home
b. A prudent wife is from the Lord (a precious gift)
a1. Wisdom is knowing what is right and prudence is doing what is right despite all temptations
a2. A wife who honors the Lord is a rare find
Key passage: 1 Peter 3:1-31 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—