Lessons From Proverbs 31
Love The Proverbs 31 Woman was a dedicated wife and mother.
The scripture says that, "her husband has full confidence in herand lacks nothing of value" and also that "she brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.
" No doubt that the trust that was developed between her and her husband started with love.
That love is evidenced in her desire and ability to bring him good things and not things that would hurt him.
The love that she showed her children is evidenced in the fact that they "arise and call her blessed".
The love that she poured into them came back full circle in the praise that they gave to her for being such a great mother.
She went to great lengths to make sure that her family had everything they needed.
In the same way, God is calling all of us to love and give of ourselves to others selflessly.
1 Corinthians 13 tells us that the greatest of all things is love.
When asked what the greatest command was, Jesus replied, ""'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.
'" Like the Proverbs 31 Woman, when we do so we become a blessing to others and a reflection of God's great love for us.
Build Proverbs 14:10 tells us that "a wise woman builds her home" and the Proverbs 31 Woman certainly possessed great wisdom.
From providing food for her family, beautifying their home, investing in property, and selling fabric to various merchants, she helped to build a loving home and a successful business.
Not only did she build her home and business, she also helped to build up others.
The scripture says that "she speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
" Through the wisdom that the Lord had so generously deposited into her, she was able to encourage and teach others.
God calls all of us to build something.
Jesus said that "everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
" Everything we build is to build on Him and His word as a solid foundation for the rest of our lives.
As we do that, we can trust that He will bless our building and that not only will the fruits of that bless us in return, but it will be a blessing to others as well.
Give The Proverbs 31 Woman not only gave to her family, she also gave to others around her and those in need.
Proverbs 31:15 says "she gets up while it is still night;she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
" The fact that she sacrificed her time not just for her family, but for her servants as well demonstrates the heart that she had to serve others.
The scripture also goes on to say "she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
" She had a heart for those less fortunate than herself and sought ways to bless them out of the abundance of her many blessings.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God's Word makes it clear that we are supposed to care for those in need.
In Deuteronomy 15:11 He says, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land.
Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.
Jesus Christ further illuminated our call to care for those in need so beautifully in Matthew 25:35-40: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.
" The Virtuous Woman modeled the giving heart that God has called all of us to possess.
Whether we have a little or a lot, He has blessed all of us with something that we can bless someone else in need with.
As we do so, He will continue to bless us beyond measure.
Excel Through all that she did, the Proverbs 31 Woman inspired her family to say of her" many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.
" What made her excel? The answer to that lies in the 30th verse that says "charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised".
The secret to her success was her great reverence for the Lord and her reliance on Him as her ultimate source.
Proverbs 9:10 tells us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
" When we honor and reverence God for who He is, Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am, and so much more, we too gain the kind of wisdom and understanding that positions us to advance in life.
Through our obedience to God and His unsurpassed grace and mercy toward us, like the Proverbs 31 Woman, He will cause us also to excel.
The scripture says that, "her husband has full confidence in herand lacks nothing of value" and also that "she brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.
" No doubt that the trust that was developed between her and her husband started with love.
That love is evidenced in her desire and ability to bring him good things and not things that would hurt him.
The love that she showed her children is evidenced in the fact that they "arise and call her blessed".
The love that she poured into them came back full circle in the praise that they gave to her for being such a great mother.
She went to great lengths to make sure that her family had everything they needed.
In the same way, God is calling all of us to love and give of ourselves to others selflessly.
1 Corinthians 13 tells us that the greatest of all things is love.
When asked what the greatest command was, Jesus replied, ""'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.
'" Like the Proverbs 31 Woman, when we do so we become a blessing to others and a reflection of God's great love for us.
Build Proverbs 14:10 tells us that "a wise woman builds her home" and the Proverbs 31 Woman certainly possessed great wisdom.
From providing food for her family, beautifying their home, investing in property, and selling fabric to various merchants, she helped to build a loving home and a successful business.
Not only did she build her home and business, she also helped to build up others.
The scripture says that "she speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
" Through the wisdom that the Lord had so generously deposited into her, she was able to encourage and teach others.
God calls all of us to build something.
Jesus said that "everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
" Everything we build is to build on Him and His word as a solid foundation for the rest of our lives.
As we do that, we can trust that He will bless our building and that not only will the fruits of that bless us in return, but it will be a blessing to others as well.
Give The Proverbs 31 Woman not only gave to her family, she also gave to others around her and those in need.
Proverbs 31:15 says "she gets up while it is still night;she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
" The fact that she sacrificed her time not just for her family, but for her servants as well demonstrates the heart that she had to serve others.
The scripture also goes on to say "she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
" She had a heart for those less fortunate than herself and sought ways to bless them out of the abundance of her many blessings.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God's Word makes it clear that we are supposed to care for those in need.
In Deuteronomy 15:11 He says, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land.
Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.
Jesus Christ further illuminated our call to care for those in need so beautifully in Matthew 25:35-40: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.
" The Virtuous Woman modeled the giving heart that God has called all of us to possess.
Whether we have a little or a lot, He has blessed all of us with something that we can bless someone else in need with.
As we do so, He will continue to bless us beyond measure.
Excel Through all that she did, the Proverbs 31 Woman inspired her family to say of her" many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.
" What made her excel? The answer to that lies in the 30th verse that says "charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised".
The secret to her success was her great reverence for the Lord and her reliance on Him as her ultimate source.
Proverbs 9:10 tells us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
" When we honor and reverence God for who He is, Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am, and so much more, we too gain the kind of wisdom and understanding that positions us to advance in life.
Through our obedience to God and His unsurpassed grace and mercy toward us, like the Proverbs 31 Woman, He will cause us also to excel.
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