The Blessing of Prudence

For Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Proverbs 19:14

House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

If a foolish son and a quarreling wife are ruin to a man, all the more blessed it is to have a prudent wife. Why prudent? Why not loving? A prudent wife is a loving wife, for she takes care of her husband and home. The epitome of such prudence is found in Proverbs 31:10-31. A prudent wife is one who exercises wisdom and discretion in practical matters. Her home is kept in order. She takes care of the children. She strives to be a helpmeet to her husband. Truly a man with such a wife is blessed by the Lord.

Likewise, men are to be prudent, as the first part of the proverb demonstrates. The man receives a house and wealth as an inheritance from his father who exercised prudence in providing for his family. The father heeded the proverbs which taught to be industrious, to use discretion with money, to slowly build up wealth and not to spend it foolishly. Truly a wife and children with such a husband and father are blessed by the Lord.