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The Foolish Woman’s Feet – part 2

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A godly friend is such a blessing. This is the person who is consistent in their walk with God. Even though they may be facing difficulties their faith is strong, they’re trusting in Him, talking about His goodness, and encouraging those around them with their life. This is a wise woman that will keep her eyes on the path before her; not being distracted from the right way, and drawing others to love the Lord more, not because of her lack of trials, but because of them. She is on the “upward way” and that’s where she takes others.

As we continue to look at the Foolish Woman we read in verses 25 and 27 of Proverbs 7 this warning: “Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” Here is a reminder that we never sin alone. Anyone that would spend time with this woman is going to be taken downward, because that’s where her feet are leading her. One would not go away encouraged or strengthened. We know that we cannot lead anyone to a higher spiritual level than we are ourselves. Though this foolish woman is “religious” as we see in verse 13, we detect no form of godliness in her, therefore her feet are leading her astray. They can lead no other direction but downward.

Let’s “keep pressing on the upward way, new heights we’re gaining every day, still praying as we’re onward bound, ‘Lord, lead us on to higher ground.'”
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The Foolish Woman’s Feet – Part 1

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Have you ever felt overwhelmed when you look at your calendar and see the marks of all the places you must be in the next week? Of all the appointments, meetings, and plans that lie before you? Someone has wisely said. “beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”

A person can be running all day long and not really accomplish anything worthwhile. We see this example in Proverbs 7:11b-12 “her (the foolish woman’s) feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.” As we watch the foolish woman in this part of the passage we see that she is stirred up. She’s running here, then there. Her feet do not stay in her own home. How will she accomplish what needs to be done there? As we talked about yesterday, she doesn’t accomplish anything there and now we see another reason why. This woman has a home, but she is not a keeper of it. She has a husband, she may have children, but that’s not her focus. She’s here and then there, always having to be involved in activities.

Our culture feeds this kind of frenzied life. Has it caught you up into it? Do you find yourself just always having to have something to do? Do you find yourself discontent at home? There’s nothing wrong with wholesome activities, but if we have to be doing something, our restlessness may be covering up a foolish heart.

In Proverbs 31 we find the virtuous woman going out and doing things, so what’s the difference between her and the foolish woman? When the virtuous woman is out of her home she’s looking for ways to benefit and serve her family, or the place in which God has given her to serve. Her priority is to bless her husband and children.

Proverbs 14:8 “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way.” As we consider our way today, let’s ask the Lord if our busyness is due to wisdom – or from foolishness instead.
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The Foolish Woman’s Hands – Part 2

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Most of us are very familiar with the virtuous woman who is described in Proverbs 31. It seems that this dear lady has at least two sets of hands to accomplish all she does in a day’s time. She’s up before daylight and doesn’t go to bed very early in the evening. In those waking hours she has taken care of her husband first, then her children and her household. She’s purchased food and a field, worked in the yard, sewn clothes, has been helpful to the needy and done it all with kindness and wisdom. She is indeed a wise woman.
The opposite of wisdom is folly, meaning the short-term self-indulgence which marks out the person who doesn’t think about long-term priorities and goals but lives on a day-to-day basis, asking, “What is the most fun thing to do now?” This is the goal of the foolish woman. Rather than using her hands wisely to build, she’s found in Proverbs 14:1 – The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands. Here’s what a typical day of “plucking down” looks like:
The house is a wreck and needs a good cleaning, but she needs her beauty sleep today. Tomorrow looks like a good day to get those chores done. That Sunday school lesson needs to be read, but she got a novel at the library she’s been dying to get into. Laundry is piled up, but there’s a sale at the mall she’s heard about and she needs to run over there before she misses it. Everyone will have to just fend for themselves for supper tonight. Heaven knows, with all she’s had to do today she didn’t have time to prepare a meal too!

An old proverbs says, “Wishers and ‘woulders’ are poor housekeepers.” What’s keeping you from finishing the task you started months ago? Is the kitchen still needing the paint job to be finished? Did you start a scrapbook and not complete it? Is there a half-made baby afghan you were going to knit? A wise woman will finish the tasks at hand – dusting, dish washing, ironing, cooking; it will get done. Make yourself a list, ask the Lord to strengthen your hands today, then work wisely until the tasks are finished.
Psalm 90:17b…establish thou the work of our hands.
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The Foolish Woman’s Hands – Part 1

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As we continue to discuss the characteristics of the foolish woman; the particular things that make her foolish, look down at your hands. Think of all the things your hands do in a day’s time. They soothe, they pick things up, they dust, they wave goodbye, they welcome friends, they prepare meals, they hold a magazine, they dial a phone number, they start the washing machine, they cuddle a baby, they open your Bible.

What would set apart a wise woman and a foolish woman? Let’s consider the things that a foolish woman would do (or not do) with her hands. In Proverbs 7 we know that the foolish woman has met a man in the dark night. In verse 13 it tells us that “she laid fast hold on him…” There’s only one way to do that and that’s by reaching out and grabbing him with her hands. She is touching this man who is not her husband. He does not belong to her and she has no good reason to grab him as he comes near her.
This foolish woman is showing us that our hands ought to be kept to ourselves and not placed on a man that is not our husband. Putting our hand on his arm or leg to get his attention, even to speak to him isn’t wise.
I recently read a story about a woman that was floating on an inflatable raft on the Gulf of Mexico. As she floated leisurely along with her eyes closed she was enjoying the ride until she opened her eyes and found that she had floated a mile from shore. Shouting and screaming to people on shore did her no good. When the coast guard finally rescued her she had drifted five miles from where she’d started. She did not see the danger until it was beyond her ability and strength to do anything about it. If we’re not careful we’ll find ourselves drifting in dangerous waters as well. If we think these kind of precautions are “over-doing it” or “ridiculous”, we’d better be looking for the “coast guard’s rescue”.
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A Personal Lesson in Choices

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I am a very task oriented person. I’ve made lists since I was a little girl. I love being able to come back and check off the chore or assignment when it’s completed; it’s such a feeling of accomplishment! Yesterday I had a plan for the day, along with a long list of all that I was going to do. However, my daughter had needs, and I was the only one that could take care of them, so I did. My husband asked me to make a visit with him, so I did. My “to do” list lay flapping in the breeze of our busyness, unattended on the counter. There were no check marks to announce my accomplishments. Unbeknown to me, the Lord had written at the top of my list, “1. Learn the lesson of good choices.”

In the middle of the visit I thought, “I am choosing to make my husband my priority – no matter that this will keep me from doing what I had planned tonight.” I had to make a phone call and inform someone that I wouldn’t be able to do what I had promised them, but that I needed to care for my family instead.

I wish I could say that I’ve always done that, and with the right attitude; I haven’t. However, with the Lord teaching me recently how foolish the foolish woman’s ways are, that truth was right before my eyes, and I could only obey! The result? Joy! (Blessing never precedes obedience) Because I had to stay home last night, I was also able to fulfill a promise to my daughter that wouldn’t have been done otherwise. My list of “to do’s” are still waiting for me today, and with the Lord’s help and strength they will get taken care of in His timing. God’s plan is perfect and His way is always right. I know I can trust Him.

Proverbs 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect:
the word of the Lord is tried:
he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.