Every wise woman builds her house but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. - Proverbs 14:1
This scripture is usually applied to marriages but let's look at it in a different light.
Has there ever been an instant in your life when God asked you to do something but you came up with all the excuses why you were not qualified to do it? Sometimes when you backtrack, you’ll notice that He was preparing you for that thing yet when the season of manifestation comes, you go back into your shell and hide. That my friend is called self-sabotage.
Self-sabotaging behaviour refers to intentional action (or inaction) that undermines people’s progress and prevents them from accomplishing their goals. Self-sabotage occurs when people undermine their own success. - www.verywellmind.com
When you exit rooms God has called you into thinking you’re not good enough or qualified enough.
For many of us, the Lord has been gracious in lavishing blessings in terms of gifting and spiritual investments. Eventually, when opportunities arose for us to perform these tasks in a more recognized capacity, we came up with lots of excuses to get away from it.
The issue is that sometimes the excuses sound honorable even appearing to look like wisdom. It seems like the most rational and logical thing to do. Truly you might not have all the tools and equipment needed to execute in that capacity but if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that you already have what is necessary inside of you.
The foolish woman in this text is not necessarily foolish due to a lack of wisdom to build. She has built something but she has used her own hands (habits, insecurities, fears) to destroy what she has built. A wise woman however is the one who not only builds but maintains the building with wisdom through her actions.
The Apostle Peter likens us to houses being built (1 Peter 2:5). Some people are building themselves yet others are tearing down the little they’ve built with their habits and fears.
Moses is a good example of someone who almost did not do what God called him to do. He came up with all the excuses to have someone else do his work.
But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”- Exodus 3:11
Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, “the God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”- Exodus 3:13
Moses answered, “What if they don’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”- Exodus 4:1
But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent – either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant- because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish”- Exodus 4:10
He raised the issue of his identity, God’s identity, people’s opinions and his insecurities. It was one excuse after another. Finally, he said, … “Please Lord, send someone else”- Exodus 4: 13
Imagine what would have happened if Moses had chosen to walk away from God’s plan for his life. Well, God might have raised someone else but just imagine the ripple effect of that decision on the Israelite nation and ultimately God’s redemptive plan if Moses had refused. God, however, was insistent (He did not gree😂).
The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.”- Exodus 4:11-12
Your God-given path might not be as grand as Moses’s. It might involve just being a better person, reinventing yourself to a newer version, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit more or going against the current tide of seeking fame and living a quiet life. Whichever category you find yourself in, let it not be said in 20 years that you didn’t even try. For once my friend, face your fears, brace for the storms, and give God’s plan a chance. If you meet obstacles, you can always return to Him for answers and direction.
By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it established- Proverbs 24:3
Lean into the wisdom of the Spirit and plan with Him. Find accountability in godly people and launch out.
This is an open letter to all of us (myself included), don’t sabotage yourself and most importantly don’t sabotage God.
Only be strong and very courageous to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. do not turn from the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. – Joshua 1: 7
Comments