A Call to Holiness/Holy Living.
Mother’s Day
May 14, 2017
Almost every time I think about Mother’s Day, I think about the Proverbs 31 woman. I don’t exactly know why but I imagine it has something to do with hearing this scripture preached at so many funerals of women I have held in high regard as Christians. This seems to be a testament to the “perfect” Christian women.
Proverbs 31King James Version (KJV)
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
This time as I was thinking about it, I began to see some things in a different light. Isn’t it beautiful how scripture is like that? You read something over and over and one day you understand it in whole new dimension. It doesn’t change or lessen the meaning but just puts new understanding in place, a new layer of growth, if you will. And that’s what I began to see, we all need to grow or we become stunted. This is a known fact when we think about it in the physical sense. If our children don’t grow according to the national charts that are considered normal for a certain age then we begin to try to figure out why and we worry. Well, we should also grow spiritually or we will be spiritually stunted as well. I think this scripture has so much more than we usually think about.
Now, it seems every time I have heard or read this I was both encouraged and discouraged, if you can be both. Encouraged because this is a wonderful picture of love and service but discouraged because I didn’t think I could ever live up to this “person” that seemed to be put upon a pedestal. That’s what I have seen differently this time. While these are some wonderful attributes to desire, we just know that a woman this great would not have wanted to be put in the spotlight. She was too busy taking care of her own to worry about what others think of her. That is the first lesson to make note of.
If we take a look back into the first verse we see that this is actually talking about King Lemuel and what his mother taught him. I haven’t done much studying on this king but it seems to me that she was concerned about him being right and staying in God’s will. She was attempting to give him wise instructions to rule as God wanted and we would do well to use good judgement in our daily living, as well so we won’t be led around by worldly pleasures. The king’s mother starts by telling him not to run after women, don’t be a drunkard, to stand up for what’s right, and to defend the weak and poor. Then she goes on to give an example, not only of what he should look for in a wife, but a full definition of godly living. This is for any person, not just this woman that she is describing.
This dialogue starts in verse 10 and begins with character. This is talking about a lifestyle that is priceless. We cannot buy character, morals, or a good standing. The truth always seeps out. Sadly, many don’t want this life. It requires discipline to achieve.
Verse 11, It is a lifestyle that is trustworthy. People should be able to trust us and have confidence in us, AND God should be able to trust us and have confidence in us.
Verse 12, It is a lifestyle that follows goodness and not destructive ways.
Verse 13, Godly living requires a commitment to work willingly and eagerly for our Lord.
Verse 14, We can’t settle for mediocre. We will need to go out of the way to get what God is wanting for us. We don’t wait for the preacher or the church to bring it to us. We go look for it by studying our bibles and looking for God all throughout the week, wherever we go.
Verse 15, We can’t forsake feeding ourselves, our families, and our friends spiritually. We may have to get up at night to pray and work a little extra but we need to be diligent to see that our people saved, taken care of.
Verse 16, Righteous living counts the cost and makes preparation, does not live “in the moment” but PLANS to care for others. This lifestyle is not selfish but gives of self to see that others will be taken care of. We must forget about the “selfies” and become servants. We must do this for our children, grandchildren and every future generation if we want God to be known to them. We may be in this church just to stand in the gap or hold this place for the future. We need to be doing that with everything we have.
Verse17, This lifestyle is one that encourages us to be strong, to strengthen ourselves in order to withstand any trouble or trial that we face. We wouldn’t go run a five mile race without training and we shouldn’t try to live out our human race without spiritual training.
Verse 18, We need to know that we are living as God asks, our lives have purpose and we let our lights shine THIS in the darkness, always.
Verse 19, We won’t be weary in well doing but will do the work that will advance the kingdom of God. (Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV) 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.)
Verse 20, We are willing and ready to help others. (James 1:27 (KJV)27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.)
Verse 21, A Godly life is well prepared for any weather or storm. This woman has clothed family in the best she has available and we should also “clothe” our families in godly attire by teaching them in our homes, setting a good example in front of them. It is our jobs and responsibilities as Christians to see that our circle of influence, the people we see regularly, are seeing righteousness in what we give them.
Verses 22-27 This particular idea seems to continue in the next few verses. We see that every aspect of this home is the very best she can give. Our homes should reflect God in every room. He should be able to come in and sit down and feel welcome in every area. I used to think that this was about how well the home was kept physically and everyone that knows me knows that this is not my strong suit. I so strive for that and admire those that are able to attain a beautiful home. That isn’t talking about a physical clean but being spiritually, well kept. We can’t be more concerned about how much our family possesses physically but we must be concerned about how much we/they possess spiritually. One day that is all that will be important.
Verses 28-31, We all want to be well thought of and just thinking of someone “rising and calling us blessed” and praising us is like getting a trophy. However, we aren’t after any trophy that this world offers but we are after a crown of life, not just for us but our whole household. If we truly want to be blessed, we must bless. Bless the Lord with all we have. This is the gist of the whole chapter, the final outcome. If we get a full picture of this virtuous woman, we begin to understand that the end result is what we all are after. This is the picture of a Godly life, a Christian being not just a name we give ourselves. Christianity is not just a religion but a way of living as Jesus Christ lived and lives in us. We must strive every day to be that example to others, to lift up the way of the cross and deny our own selves to live for Him. This woman doesn’t seem to think of herself in any way but of every person in her influence, whoever they may be. We don’t have to be Mothers to benefit from this. We just have to have a desire to live for the Lord with our whole lives, both daily and from beginning to end. Does this mean I get it right? Not by any worldly standards and for that I have beaten myself up over and over again. However, I want to live by God’s standards and not the world’s. Am I superwoman? I can’t be and neither can any of you but I do know someone with supernatural powers and that is whom I trust to see me through this. He has already given us the words to live by and the path to follow. He already has the answers for when our families don’t live right and haven’t followed the path. He wants us to follow Him, plain and simple. By doing that with all we have then we can’t help but be this person He wants us to be and in turn we will show others the way and they will call us blessed because we can’t help but be blessed. Let’s all examine ourselves and lay side those things that hinder us from living a godly life. (Hebrews 12:1(KJV)12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,) We have to stop trying to be great in the world’s eyes and just please God.
Let us renew our commitment to Him and live every day as fully as God would have us live, as the Proverbs 31 woman, noble, moral, and full of purpose.
Because I Said So 