I hope and pray you're doing well today! And are strong in the Lord and His truth which is of the most importance of course. We know there will be trials and sufferings on this earth until God makes all things new...so let us make sure all is well with our souls and between us and the Lord first.
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:34-36
But today I thought I'd do a post on the Proverbs 31 woman. I know most everyone has their opinions and thoughts on just what she was doing and what she was like but I'm not really going to go into that much but just share what comes and hopefully that will encourage you sisters who are striving to be godly women...virtuous women who fear the Lord!
I read the scripture passage for you.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Praise God that we can have that example written down for us. We know such examples are rare...especially in a world like today's.
We see similar things for women in the New Testament also.
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
1 Timothy 5:10
We see the Proverbs 31 woman being very hard working and most certainly focused on looking after those in her life, her family (and the poor and needy). She has a husband and children (and maids we see). So it's an encouragement for us to be hard working in what we are to be doing as keepers at home. Of course we all have different circumstances but we strive to do the best we can in them.
I'll also add this isn't talking about being a feminist or being busy on things that are not biblical either. We see many women caught up in doing things that are not biblical...and even using the Proverbs 31 woman as an excuse.
We see this in the New Testament...
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:3-5
So once again I praise the Lord for giving us His instructions for us women today! And if we love Him and have been born again by the Spirit through the gospel, we obey those commands He gave us. What a blessing to have them. God is too good to us sisters!
Some women can get obssessed with decorating and furnishing the home to the point of excess. A godly woman with her mind set on things above will not want to be storing up her treasures here nor living for ease and comfort here. We already have so much of that in our lives already! No there's nothing wrong with things to help make our lives easier which really means we can have more time for something else...like a ministry/blog/encouraging other sisters and sharing the gospel with others or if we have children and a husband giving our undivided attention to them.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
We know, sisters, that we are to be content with food and raiment.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1 Timothy 6:8
And also remember that life is more than those...
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luke 12:23
So what I'm trying to say is that we have grown used to so many things in our cultures that we certainly could do well with much less. And so that allows us to focus on what matters most.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
So what I'm saying and tying that in to the Proverb 31 woman is that as long as our basic needs are met we are to be thankful and not get caught up in all the things of this life. The Proverbs 31 woman was all about the home and looking after the needs there and those around her. And today we are thankful that we have so much more than food and raiment but we must remember to be content without them too.
She eats not the bead of idleness. Right sisters! And what might that be but useless and vain things that we used to be caught up in before we were walking in all of God's ways. And basically being selfish and doing her own things, being lazy. Let that not be us, sisters.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.Ephesians 4:32
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.Proverbs 9:10
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Matthew 6:33
Love to you sisters,
...from one of God's daughters
You can find the gospel explained here.