Wisdom, Day 31

Welcome to Day 31 of our Journey through “31 Days of Wisdom“! This is being posted New Year’s Eve – a perfect metaphor for New Beginnings, New Intentions, and New Habits. Let this be your invitation to make Wisdom your own daily habit to seek out Wisdom in all that you do and to share this daily routine with others. I hope this challenges you in your own journey and growth as an individual, and as a leader that has influence with others where ever you go.

Thank you for joining me, I hope this has blessed you and yours. Come back and look for other series in the #Faith, #Family, and #Freedom categories on this blog. Beginning in January 2018 a new series, “31 Days to Bless Your Family“, will be launched and future series on Freedom, Business, and Leadership will be coming soon.

Today’s categories are ruling with integrity, and the “Proverbs 31 Woman”. Yes, this one woman described here from centuries ago still stands as the model woman for many today around the world. An entire ministry has been formed dedicated to her and to women striving to be their best like her: Proverbs 31 Ministries.

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We end our study today, 1) with a mother emphasizing to her son, the King, not to be enticed by woman and wine if he is to be a good ruler. In order to govern well and serve the rights of all the people the King is reminded to be sober and clear of head and heart. His mother reminds him to defend the poor and the needy.

And 2), The Middle East seems to have long given women’s rights a lot to be considered, but not so these many centuries past in the Hebrew text of Proverbs. The Bible actually does quite a bit to uplift the dignity and rights of all human beings, but especially women, often referred to as a precious bride and fellow heir.

We can read here how honored and cherished this woman is, and how esteemed and admirable! She is noble in character, beautiful inside and out. She is intelligent and industrious, independent and and entrepreneurial, an importer, manufacturer and exporter. This woman is the first to rise at o’dark thirty and the last to bed at night. No wonder so many women today relate to her – so many responsibilities, so much heart and soul! She takes care of the poor and needy, and her husband’s own position seems honored because of her. Her family and household (including employees) are clearly blessed because of her.

We all have so much to learn from her, and men – we have so much to grow to be worthy of her, or any woman like her. Please accept the challenge and the demands placed on you to be honorable men! Women, your hearts and efforts can be truly noble and independent. You can truly be the best version of you and shine so that the whole world, from your inner circle and home to the entire culture, can be affected and even blessed by your every effort. All your heart and soul matters and affects everything from you, to your home, to the culture and world around you.

I cannot conclude this content specifically without honoring my own wife once again. I love my wife. She is in every way a Proverbs 31 Woman and doesn’t even know it. She doesn’t even try to be one – she just is one. She is noble and independent just because she is who she is. I adore her, respect her and admire her. I cherish her. And I want to be a better man more so because of her.

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[shareable cite=”https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PRO.31.ESV”]1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

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• YouVersion® Bible.com Reading Plans – Proverbs
• Matthew Henry’s Commentary from BibleGateway
• Top 5 Commentaries post from Ligonier’s Ministry
• Proverbs Resources from PreceptAustin

If you are at any time pursuing or answering some tug at your heart to be in a right relationship with God please see my post on “How to Have Life’s Most Important Conversation, Connecting With God – What to say and do when someone is ready to pray to be saved in Christ“.