Text: Proverbs 14:1-3 (ESV)   1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. 2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. 3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.   WISDOM BUILDS   A wise woman builds her home. She plays an integral part in homemaking. Her influence could never be taken for granted as we see the effects by her absence. She manages money or resources, even invests them into her ministry for the benefit of her family and others unto the glory of God. She is the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. A woman mindful of the needs of her family and eager to live out God's call on her life in every season. In contrast, the foolish woman is unconcerned about the needs of her husband and children. She does not honor the Lord nor seek to live out His calling on her life. Rather than build up her family, her actions damage her family.   What determines the character of the person is his reverence to God, is it not? The term translated "uprightness" implies something "straight" or honest.[Prov 2:13; 4:11] In contrast, the devious person is perverted and defiant in his ways. Jesus made this distinction very clear when He said, "So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit" (Mat 7:17–18). Their fruits will make them apparent [Mat 7:20] A person who reverences the Lord despises sin while he who despises the Lord loves sin. There is no middle ground.   Out of the heart of the foolish person comes evil. His uncontrolled and thoughtless words do hurt others and will hurt him in return. He is shooting his own foot. Their own attacking words come back to haunt him.[Psa 64:7-8] His words will hurt him sooner as one hit by a rod at his back. Rods were used for self-defense and as a form of punishment for wrongdoers. The person using careless, hurtful speech eventually faces consequences. James says, “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (Jas 3:5–6).   What does these all mean for us today? Let’s always cultivate the fear of God in our lives so we live uprightly. That our lifestyles and talks will build up others and not tear them down.   Listen and FOLLOW us on our podcast ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram