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Over the years, much emphasis has been given to the wonderful description of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. This certainly is one of my favorite portions of the Bible, and it has provided inspiration for my marriage and my parenting. But lately I’ve been intrigued by another aspect of this celebrated section of Scripture: the Proverbs 31 Man. Without directly focusing upon him, Solomon frames this portrait of a woman worthy of praise with subtle hints about her godly husband. First, we’re reminded that because of this man, the Proverbs 31 woman is both wife and mother. Second, this woman’s glorious attributes seem to blossom within the special relationship she has with her spouse. So, what can we discover about the Proverbs 31 Man who undoubtedly aided in the development of this timeless example of godly womanhood? 1. “Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life” (verses 11). Yes, this wife is trustworthy-but the husband returns the favor by offering his complete confidence. She can build upon that trust, but he must offer it, too. 2. “She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard” (verses 15-16). This wife and mother is a hard-worker, but her husband establishes an environment where she can best use her talents-both inside and outside the home. He seems to appreciate her wisdom with finances, allowing her to invest and add to the family’s income. 3. “She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warmclothes” (verse 21).This woman is industrious, but she’s not the only one. If she were trying to provide for the entire household on her own, she’d probably have lots to be concerned about-yet she isn’t fearful at all. Why? No doubt because her husband is equally hard-working and diligent about providing for his family’s needs. 4. “Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders” (verse 23). The Proverbs 31 Man is an important person in his sphere of influence. In those days, men of authority helped make decisions at the city gates. In our times, these men are part of community groups, civic leadership, and church mentoring and eldering. 5. “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: ‘There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all'” (verses 28-29). There is a culture of appreciation in this home, and the Proverbs 31 husband and father is an active participant of it. He offers his wife and the mother of his children sincere praise. With a spouse like this, is it any wonder that the Proverbs 31 woman “brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (verse 12)? He is her teammate, her cheerleader, and her best friend. They work together for one another’s good, and, because of their devotion to God and each other, they’ve left a legacy worthy for us to follow today. Thought of the Month “As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:31-33 The cable college package has been subscribed to, and other football fans seem to be as excited as we are that fall is just around the corner. Another season of “new beginnings” awaits, and that’s the inspiration for this month’s devotion which we hope will encourage you in the days ahead: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Football season is here again, and I’m more than ready! After years of watching our sons play Pop Warner, high school, and even college football, I’ve come to appreciate the game. Sure, there’s a lot of hitting, diving, and “cutting” going on all over the field, but once a play is over, an unusual scene often takes place. These gridiron gladiators actually help each other get off the grass, even stretching out their hands to assist opposing players! That concept is exactly what the Lord passes on to us in this portion of Ecclesiastes. Two are certainly better than one, especially when we are working together in harmony. I’ve always loved the saying, “together we make one great person.” Marriage can include this kind of dual benefit because a husband and wife usually compensate for one another’s weaknesses. Think about some of the ways you and your spouse help each other in your personal and even your professional lives. Praise the Lord for how you complement one another, and ask for His insight to discover how you can collaborate more and more in the days ahead. Don’t let anything come between the team the two of you are developing. Most of all, if one of you does fall, pick the other up and keep moving forward-together! *From New Beginnings: Devotions to Develop the Greatest Romance by Dr. Rebecca Wilke, available in our Resources section-or on Amazon.com in book and Kindle formats. Thought of the Month Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Philippians 1:27 Looking back, the white bread, imitation mayo, and thin-sliced deli meat held little nutritional value-but what Grandma Bonnie whipped up each time we stopped by for a visit was priceless. Her arthritic hands slapped together sandwiches better than anyone, and, while we ate, we also laughed as she told stories of the old days or the latest antics with her fun-loving sisters. Oh how I miss those lazy Saturdays sitting at Grandma’s kitchenette! She and Grandpa were always ready to drop everything in order to listen to what we’d been doing. They probably had no idea how their simple acts of kindness, prayers, and insights about their faith laid the foundation for a family that would follow the Lord generations after they’d gone home to Heaven. I caught a glimpse of this legacy when our nephew Zach, who’s thinking about going to seminary, emailed a devotion he’d written. Here’s a snippet for you to enjoy: Being a leader has its cliché meaning, and the skills required can often seem stereotypical. However, this is not necessarily true. Every person God puts in a leadership position has different strengths. This is because every leadership position is different. God knows the hardships a leader will face-and every time a problem arrives, that leader will either have the skill to solve the difficulty or will be provided the skill whether that is through another person or a change in the leader. God equips men and women with the ability to address what life throws at them. This is supported by 1 Corinthians 10:13 which states the following: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” I have always been a huge worrier. I worry about everything-every little detail. However, every time that thing I worry about comes up, God provides me the strength and ability to get through it and deal with it. I know what you’re thinking, “How does this apply to me as a leader?” That’s a great question! The following statement is important to understand: You don’t do anything. God uses you to do His will. He allows you to live, lead, and love. He gives you the ability to address whatever life throws at you. I couldn’t help but smile as I read the words penned by this seventeen-year-old, and I can imagine the grin on Grandma Bonnie’s face if she read them, too. Zach never got to know his great-grandmother, but her legacy lives on through his life nonetheless. Chats about faith told over bologna sandwiches had more impact than any of us ever realized at the time, and the legacy of an individual who faithfully serves the Lord will continue to influence generations yet to come! Thought of the Month Our children will also serve him.Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done. Psalm 22:30-31 Gershwin got it right when he wrote the lyrics for his famous spiritual: “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” There really is something remarkable about this season, even for those of us that still have work to accomplish. Somehow life seems brighter thanks to longer days and the brilliant rays of our sun. Warmer waters beckon us to wade in and relax for awhile. People take time to picnic and even plan a family vacation if possible. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this special season of warmth and light didn’t have to end? Well, I’ve got great news for you-one day it won’t! Take a look at these words the prophet Isaiah penned centuries ago: No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, Isaiah 60:19-20 In this chapter describing the Millennial Kingdom, the Lord gives us a glimpse of His glorious character. In this world, we need the sun He created for illumination and heat; this won’t be the case in the future. God will provide everything, and He will be our everlasting light! And the “livin’“-it will indeed be easy because of the amazing future God has planned for us. Here’s another glimpse of that joyful season from verse 18 of Isaiah 60: Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, Friends, we have a fabulous future to look forward to thanks to God’s gift of salvation. So, enjoy every moment under His sun this summer-and keep living for that everlasting season of sunshine that is yet to come! “One of these mornings George Gershwin, Summertime
Thought of the Month For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. Psalm 84:11v |
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