Proverbs 31 part 3

Proverbs 31: 24-31

Vs. 24: "She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes."
     
      This verse is another picture of a diligent woman who contributes to her family's needs and uses her skills to contribute financially.


Vs. 25: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
     
       This is one of my favorite verses in Proverbs 31 because it shows a woman who is anxiety free because she trusts the Lord and knows who holds the future. She clothes herself with the Lord. Think about it...when you get ready in the morning and put clothes on, it is deliberate. You know that what you put on others will see. Do people around you see Christ when they look at you? She has no anxiety because she knows her family is well taken care of. Also, this is another picture of diligence as she has already provided for her family so she does not need to worry. I love when it says "she can laugh at the days to come" because it shows the absolute trust she has in the Lord. When we trust ourselves and look for security in relationships, in money, and other people, we will in no way be able to laugh at the days to come because our security and hopes are in things of the world that WILL fail us. When we entrust our lives to Christ and trust He has a plan (which is ALWAYS way better than ours!) then we can live at ease, no matter what obstacles come our way.


Vs. 26: "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

      Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the fact that she speaks with wisdom shows she fears the Lord and lives for Him. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. She is not someone who slanders people and gossips, but someone who encourages others and speaks wisdom into their lives. She is someone people can come to to receive instruction. She is not foolish but someone who is so in tune with the Word of God that her instruction flows from the Biblical instruction the Lord provides.


Vs. 27: "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

       Just as a spy watches out for enemies and ways to protect others, a Proverbs 31 woman watches over her family and carefully watches out for ways to protect them from dangers. This would include things like watching over her children and not allowing them to be involved with people who are not of the same mind or people who could drag them away from their relationship with Christ. She is not idle but always diligent.


Vs. 28: "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

       Her family praises her not because of what she has done, but because who she is in Christ. There is nothing that is truly praiseworthy outside of Christ. She is the Proverbs 31 woman because of who she has become in Christ. She trust Him, finds all security in Him, and obeys who the Bible has called her to be.


Vs. 29: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
   
       Sure, there are good moms and women who are not Christians, but because the Proverbs 31 woman is a woman after God's own heart and puts her family above herself as she seeks after the Lord, she surpasses them all!


Vs. 30: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

      Unfortunately we live in a culture that praises beauty. People are getting face lifts and all kinds of treatments to look younger and be more beautiful. Women are obsessed with beauty and makeup and believe they can only be secure once they are beautiful (according to the world's standards). The truth is, those who are beautiful and young with flawless skin and have golden legs like an angel are going to turn into wrinkly prunes with sagging faces and crows feet. Why seek after that which is fleeting and short lived, when you could seek after something that is eternal and will not fail you? The truth is, every single girl is beautiful. God created you with diversity and made you beautiful in His eyes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made-He never once said "Oh, I think I will make this little morsel ugly and insecure"....that's not how our Father works. He is a jealous God who wants your time and energy focused on Him...the one who will NEVER fail or leave you, even when you are a wrinkly prune.
             "Use truth for your lips, prayer for your voice, pity for your eyes, charity for your hands, uprightness for your figure, and love for your heart."


Vs. 31: "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

      She does not use her good deeds to be seen by man and to receive praise from the world, but it is for her Heavenly Father. Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Proverbs 31 part 2

Proverbs 31:17-23

Vs. 17: "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."
       Good thing this does not mean you have to be a 300 lb body builder with muscles the size of Texas in order to be a Proverbs 31 woman! (pretty sure everyone would be like "welp, see ya Shae!" haha. It also does not mean she is like Spongebob, who can't lift two small teddy bears on a stick. (yes, I did just refer to a Spongebob episode). It's saying she is ready for her tasks and works hard! She is known as someone who works diligently for the Lord in whatever she does. She is not given a single task where she half-heartily completes it. She is not someone who is lazy all the time, but a diligent worker who strives to do things right-not half-heartily.

Vs. 18: "She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night."
       She does not indulge in sleep. She has a much sweeter sleep since her day is productive. Let's just say her favorite song is not "we are the pirates, who don't do anything, we just stay home and lie around" haha.

Vs. 19: "In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers."
       A distaff is a staff that was used to hold the wool, which is then twisted into thread and wound on the spindle. This is another example of a hard worker who creatively uses what she can get to provide for her and her family.

Vs. 20: "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."
      Being a Proverbs 31 woman does not look like someone who constantly seeks the approval of those who can repay her, but those whom she knows have nothing to repay her back with. She does not seek the reward but only to bless those around her. "She loves the poor, not in word or tongue, but also in deed and in truth."-1 John 3:16-18 LOVE TAKES ACTION. She sees needs and does something about it. When it says poor in this verse, it isn't just talking about in riches, but poor in spirit also. She mentors those around her and builds others up in Christ.

Vs. 21: "When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothes in scarlet."
       Many times people look at the Proverbs 31 woman and think she is way too busy and never has time. But take a look at this verse-She has NO fear. She is not stressed out with things that need to get done. Since she is diligent, she is not stressed and always at peace. Her family is clothed in scarlet. Back then, scarlet was a nice material. You may be thinking this is contrary to a previous verse which talked about her not being a financial burden. This is most definitely not contrary because remember, she made a lot of her fabric with her own hands and buys and sells it. Also, many think the Proverbs 31 woman is someone who spends no money on clothes and wears nasty drab clothing that is not attractive. WRONG. She is not a financial burden, but still dresses nicely and modestly. Her family wears attractive clothing, but they do not spend an excessive amount of money on them.

Vs. 22: "She makes covering for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple."
      I began to look up how the purple linen was made, and came across this: the purple dye came from a shellfish that was broken in order to get a small gland which was removed and crushed. The milky fluid becomes purple when exposed to air. Remember, she made it herself so it was not at the cost of her family's finances.

Vs. 23: "Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."
      Sitting at the city gate was a respected position of men who were like judges. Boaz was one of these men for his city (Ruth 4:1). His wife supports him and respects him as she takes care of household affairs so he is able to continue his work without stress to provide for his family.