Today’s Passage: “She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20
Isn’t it amazing how many lessons we can learn from the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31? We could work on all of these qualities for the rest of our lives and still have room for improvement. That’s what is so wonderful about God’s plan. We will always be useful to God as long as we study and seek to obey Him, because He keeps growing our hearts and molding us into His likeness.
Today’s study focuses on the virtuous woman and how she is hospitable and charitable. When I read that a godly woman helps the poor and needy, the first thing that comes to mind are Jesus’ words regarding how we are to reach out to others to serve Him: “Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 'The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:37-40.
By reaching out to those who are poor, we show Christ’s love to others. On the other hand, if we do not help the poor and we have opportunity to do so, we should be aware that this failure is listed in Matthew 25:46 among those things that will cause us to “go away to eternal punishment”. This is a very serious consequence for our failure to do good to those who are less fortunate than us.
We may be inclined to think that because we are not rich by America’s standards, we are not held to this commandment. Yet, even some of the poor in our nation are rich compared to many in other parts of the world. We can help others regardless of our financial circumstances. A wonderful example of the poor helping the poor is found in II Corinthians 8:1-3: “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” What a wonderful testimony to be commended by an apostle for helping others even though the helpers themselves were in extreme poverty!
We should remember that Jesus knows our hearts and our pocketbooks, as He did when a widow placed a single coin into the temple treasury. Though some gave bags of money and made a great display of it, Jesus knew that a widow’s meager offering was all that she had to live on. He commended her for her act of selflessness: “"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." Even when we experience financial hardships, we can often find another in a worse plight than we are and offer assistance. It is important to note that giving to the work of the church can help support those in need through the benevolence program, but we should remember that Matthew 25 commands us to do this on an individual basis as well.
The poor are not the only ones who are needy. James 1:27 teaches us “to look after orphans and widows in their distress”. It is not enough to depend on the welfare system to care for those who are orphaned or widowed. We must also visit them and take care of them. We can support the good works of Christian children’s homes by offering to serve as tutors, assist houseparents or foster families or serve as mentors and tutors. Often, these children have had no positive role model in their lives before entering foster care as the majority of them have been removed from homes where they were abused physically or sexually or neglected. Jesus told His disciples to “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God”. Though He was teaching his followers to become as pure as children spiritually, He also was showing the great example of taking time to notice the children in the crowds and allow them to come to Him. We should notice the children around us as well and see to their needs.
Additionally, there are many who have suffered the loss of their spouse and are lonely. By taking time to visit them, we are reinforcing the fact that they are special to God and that they continue to serve a great purpose. The Bible teaches us to grow in wisdom and to teach the younger women; yet how can this teaching take place if the younger do not spend time with the elder? In a society where few of us remain in the same community as our extended family, we could benefit greatly by reaching out to the elderly where we live. Caring for the widows is not just a gift to the elder women but also a blessing to the younger, who can learn sound advice from God’s Word from those who have lived much longer and can teach others "a thing or two".
The Bible gives us many examples of ways that we can help others. Cornelius gave alms to the poor (Acts 10:2), Solomon taught that the righteous care about the justice of the poor (Proverbs 29:7), Paul was eager to help the poor (Galatians 2:10) and David condemned those who persecuted the needy and failed to show mercy (Psalm 109:16). On the other hand, Isaiah warned about seeking the destruction of the poor (Isaiah 32:7) while Amos spoke of the coming punishment for those who tried to do away with the poor (Amos 8:4).
We should especially notice the needs of other Christians and assist them (I John 3:17) but when we see opportunity, we should seek to help everyone, even if they are someone who has done us wrong. “…If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 15:26). This is not an easy task, to be sure, but God has commanded us to love others so we can be sure that loving even the most unlovable person is possible.
As a postscript to the above, I believe that we must be careful how we help those who we do not know personally. For example, those of us in metropolitan areas may see several beggars on the side of the highways on a daily basis or encounter poor people that come to the church building and ask for help. At times, I have heard Christians say that we should not help these people because they can go to the “soup kitchen”. Their basis for this belief is that welfare programs were not available in the past when the Jews were commanded to leave the outer areas of their fields unharvested. While this may be true, I believe that we should be careful to readily dismiss our responsibilities to the poor and needy. I do not believe that God’s commandments for us to look after the poor have been outdated and therefore are no longer necessary because the government has special programs. Our work in the kingdom is to reach out to others and share Christ’s love which involves us getting out in the trenches and working.
There may be cases in which a traveling Christian has a legitimate need and should be able to seek help from the church. I shudder to imagine a loved one, whose vehicle broke down on the highway, have her pleas ignored by the local congregation because there is a chance that she might be a scam artist. Certainly, we must be wise in our endeavors to help others but we should not refuse to assist based solely on our personal appraisal of the person’s appearance. Remember that God judges the heart and not the appearance of a person. We may turn away someone only to discover later that they were truly in need of help.
Additionally, we should not refuse assistance based on the condition of our world today and the evil that is within it. The world has been filled with evil since the first sin and was destroyed in Noah’s day due to the condition of human hearts. According to Solomon, there is “nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). No, our purpose is not to remove ourselves from the corrupt world around us but instead, we must shine as lights and give others hope through Christ Jesus our Savior. We must remember that Christians should be known for our love, as John so frequently wrote in his letters. Jesus stated, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14.
There are many ways to extend our hands to the poor and needy. For example, if we are uncomfortable giving cash to someone for fear that they will use it for immoral purposes, perhaps we could buy lunch for someone who is hungry or fill up their car if they are out of gas. If we learn of a situation in which the parents are unable to purchase gifts for their child’s birthday or Christmas, we might buy some gifts and wrap them up to be given to the parents anonymously. We could give a grocery store gift card to a family who has little money for anything but the most basic of staples. We might adopt a family through the deacon in charge of benevolence or participate in Christian rescue efforts. Some suggestions of Christian rescue organizations are provided below with links to their websites. Your elders or deacons may know of local organizations for you to sponsor as well.
Christian Relief Fund www.christianrelieffund.org
Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort www.disasterreliefeffort.org
Healing Hands International http://www.hhi.org/
Pos Los Ninos http://www.familylifemissions.org/
May God bless you in your efforts to help others and may you always find help when you need it, as well. Let us strive to seek opportunities to give hope to a world that so desperately needs it. Many souls have been saved because a Christian first assisted them physically or financially. Who knows what seeds can be planted in others’ hearts because we reached out in love?
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Daily Bible Reading Schedule
As a personal objective, I'd like to read the entire Bible this year. I have developed a schedule of the subjects that I'd like to study in a particular order. I send this link to you in hopes that you will find it beneficial. Two versions are available on the following website: a printable or an editable version. You may choose to rearrange your reading schedule to focus on particular topics or to alter the dates. God bless you in your studies!
http://www.pricelesspearlsdevotionals.com/biblereadingschedule.html
http://www.pricelesspearlsdevotionals.com/biblereadingschedule.html
The Virtuous Woman - Compassionate, Worthy in the Lord, Honest and Committed
Today’s Passage: “She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.” Proverbs 31:18-19
Today’s study of the virtuous woman focuses on Proverbs 31:18-19 and her devotion to God by being honest and committed. Again, this study is one that pertains to me as I write it because I can greatly improve on my commitment to God and make the work in his kingdom priority over everything else. I should always strive to place God first, my family second, others next and myself last. In order to properly do this, the tasks I should pour the most efforts into are the ones that will improve my own as well as my family’s relationships with our Savior and help grow the church by reaching out to others to take care of their needs and share the hope of the gospel with them.
“She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.” Proverbs 31:18
This verse further instills in us the idea that the virtuous woman is dedicated and works earnestly because she works all night if the need arises. An image comes to mind of a mother who stays up all night with a sick baby, caring for it until the morning light. A good mother does not have to be asked to care for her baby. It should be something she does naturally out of great love for her children. Wise King Solomon called on the great bond between mother and child when he tested two women who claimed to be the mother of a baby in I Kings 3:26.
Similarly, we should have the same love for others who are in need. Compassion should arise in us when we look around and see the needs of those who are sick, injured, lonely, poor or grieving. It is written of our Lord Jesus that “when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” Matthew 9:36. What hope it should give us to know that Jesus, who is Deity, looks upon His people with compassion and love.
A virtuous woman in the Lord is honest at all times. In order to perceive "that her merchandise is good", she must examine it and determine its worth. If there is an imperfection, she will correct it instead of attempting to sell an inferior product as if it were flawless. This characteristic is taught in Leviticus 19:36: “Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” It is a very sad thing that such a person could not be found in Jerusalem. God spoke through Jeremiah to tell the people of Judah: "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” I fear that the same could be said of our nation today.
Whether we tell “white lies” or exaggerate the details, are we seeking the truth and dealing honestly? If we are asked to do something on the job, are we honest to God and our principles? In the workforce, I have been instructed to tell callers that someone is “out of the office” or “in a meeting”. Even something as “simple” as this is a test of our honesty. A better answer would be that they are unable to take the call or, if they are dodging the caller, tell them that you can take a message or assist them with any problems, avoiding the mention of what your coworker is doing. I have known Christians whose consciences have been stricken by the things they are asked to do by management, and although they do not have another employer waiting in the wings, they have made the decision to trust God and do the right thing. In some cases, the employee has been terminated, in other cases the employee has chosen to willfully terminate. Such Christians show great faith in the Lord and are some of the greatest examples of using honest scales and seeking the truth.
This verse also teaches a great lesson in worthiness and is one that I must personally strive to learn. When a woman of God who has obeyed the gospel does her very best, examines her life against the Word, repents of all sin and strives to always live faithfully, she “perceives that her merchandise is good.” As humans, we will never live up to the perfect example of Christ and we will never attain salvation through our own works because no human is without sin. We must discipline our body daily (II Corinthians 9:27) to ensure that we are living for God and we must test ourselves by always comparing ourselves to the perfect model of Christ and the commandments of the Lord (II Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 6:4, I Thessalonians 5:21, James 1:3).
Having stated this, there is a sense in which we must know that mistakes will be made or else we would not need a Savior. It is a serious business to continually test our faith and actions to ensure they will stand but we must also feel the peace and comfort that we are saved through Christ. Paul had a healthy outlook in that he considered himself the “chief” of sinners (I Timothy 1:15) yet He boasted in the Lord (II Corinthians 10:17, Galatians 6:14). In other words, by himself, he was worthless but with Christ, he could “do all things” (Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13). That is a very uplifting example for us as women to have. We are of great worth when we are part of the body of Christ.
“She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle” Proverbs 31:19. This passage further conveys the idea of diligence and dogged determination. It describes a woman completely committed to her task. True commitment and loyalty are values that are nearly nonexistent in today’s society. Gone are the days when everyone was committed to his job, such as the milkman and postman that delivered items to the front door and greeted each of their customers. The only way to understand such a notion today is to watch reruns of Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver. There are certainly kind and caring postal and delivery workers today, but more often than not, our mail marked “Do not bend” is shoved into the mailbox and folded in half to make it fit in order to save walking a few feet to our door or writing up a slip for us to pick up the package at the post office. A shipping employee leaves boxes at our door without knocking. (I think he’s afraid I’ll release the hounds at the front window!) Thankfully, no one has decided to steal the packages before we discover them later as we open the door and stumble over them.
At any rate, it seems that personal service is a thing of the past. Cashiers roll their eyes when there is a price check or completely fail to acknowledge their customers. Often, the only thing they say to us is the total price. It is interesting to note that at some businesses, the credit card swipe asks if the associate has been helpful that day. I wonder what the tally is for the average associate and whether most people who swipe their card are honest.
Commitment to marriage and family has decreased rapidly in our "me first" world. The idea of "falling out of love" is not a Biblical concept. In fact, the very word for the love we should have for God and fellow man is “agape”, an unconditional, sacrificial love. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). “Eros”, or infatuation and sexual love, is not to be the driving force behind marriage. “Feeling love” or being “in love” is not the same as sacrificing for love and remaining committed, even in the dark times. God loved us (agape) when we were unlovable (I John 4:10, Romans 5:6-10). This is the same concept that we should have for our families, whether they act deservedly or not (Colossians 3:18, I Peter 3:1). It is extremely important for us to teach our children throughout their lives to choose wisely when they marry because marriage is for life. It is true when someone states that they just aren’t in love with their spouse anymore or don’t feel the same way about them. Because they have abandoned their duty to love sacrificially and thus have broken their commitment to spouse and God, they indeed do not love their spouse anymore. This attitude does not reflect Biblical teachings of what our love should be (agape) as marriage partners. Note that the only situation in which the marriage bond may be broken except by death is by the spouse who has been wronged by adultery, a sexual act outside of marriage (Matthew 5:32; 19:9, Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3). This does not change the fact that God hates divorce and we would do well to consider this very carefully before a decision is made in an adulterous relationship. Our spouse and children's souls may be at stake if the spouse later remarries or influences the children to make wrong decisions in their own marriages later. “Marriage should be honored by all” Hebrews 13:4.
The virtuous woman does not fail to give herself wholeheartedly to the task at hand. We need hard workers in the kingdom as well. Wherever God can use us, we should do our best to fulfill the task with cheerfulness. Imagine walking into a business where everyone is truly happy to see you and says “Hello”. Whenever you look for someone to help you locate an item, they do not avoid your eyes and scurry away but instead smile and walk over to you to assist. When you check out at the cash register, the cashier smiles and asks how you are doing with genuine concern and the person bagging your groceries takes great care to ensure that your bread and eggs are not smashed. He or she then carries out your groceries to your car and wishes you well. Hard to imagine in a store that does not pay commission to their employees who do these things? It shouldn’t be, if we who are Christians live according to our names’ sake. “Christian” means a follower of Christ and one who professes belief in His teachings. We should think twice before telling people we are Christians if we are not willing to do what Christ says and live according to His example and teachings.
Honesty is not limited to working outside of the home. Our family members need for us to be completely honest with them. This does not mean that we should go around telling everyone that we wouldn’t be caught dead in their outfit or that we find what they said to be hurtful when it is something that is of little consequence. We are not perfect ourselves. Honesty also does not mean sharing every minor detail about ourselves with others, preventing us from listening to what others have to say. In fact, James wrote, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” James 1:19. This means that we should keep our mouth shut if our comments are not constructive and be active listeners.
On the other hand, if we are asked to tell the truth about something, we should answer truthfully with carefulness, striving to speak in love. We can temper the things that we say by placing ourselves in the other person’s shoes and thinking of how we would like to be told something. For example, if my hair is a mess and I ask someone, “Do you like my hair?”, I would rather be told that she preferred my former style as opposed to hearing, “No, it’s just downright horrible”. If I am acting in a way that is inappropriate as a Christian or state something that is incorrect, I would like to be told in honesty and love. It might be hurtful to hear, “You are a hypocrite” rather than, “I’m concerned about something you did”. While I may be acting hypocritically, there are better ways to teach me than by a critical demeanor. Personally, I'd rather be told unlovingly than not at all so that I can correct my mistakes, but these words could be quite devastating to a new Christian who has just begun to learn what is required of him. Our attitude is very important when correcting someone and our intent must be to save both of us: the one committing the sin and the one teaching.
Honesty does not mean that we should be judgmental and harsh but that we seek to help others, all the while remembering that we too are imperfect and can lose the race if we are not careful. “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” I Corinthians 9:26-27.
I hope that this study has been helpful to you as it has been to me. I plan to be out of town for several days so the next devotional may be delayed. Thank you for studying with me and God bless you and your family today.
Today’s study of the virtuous woman focuses on Proverbs 31:18-19 and her devotion to God by being honest and committed. Again, this study is one that pertains to me as I write it because I can greatly improve on my commitment to God and make the work in his kingdom priority over everything else. I should always strive to place God first, my family second, others next and myself last. In order to properly do this, the tasks I should pour the most efforts into are the ones that will improve my own as well as my family’s relationships with our Savior and help grow the church by reaching out to others to take care of their needs and share the hope of the gospel with them.
“She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.” Proverbs 31:18
This verse further instills in us the idea that the virtuous woman is dedicated and works earnestly because she works all night if the need arises. An image comes to mind of a mother who stays up all night with a sick baby, caring for it until the morning light. A good mother does not have to be asked to care for her baby. It should be something she does naturally out of great love for her children. Wise King Solomon called on the great bond between mother and child when he tested two women who claimed to be the mother of a baby in I Kings 3:26.
Similarly, we should have the same love for others who are in need. Compassion should arise in us when we look around and see the needs of those who are sick, injured, lonely, poor or grieving. It is written of our Lord Jesus that “when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” Matthew 9:36. What hope it should give us to know that Jesus, who is Deity, looks upon His people with compassion and love.
A virtuous woman in the Lord is honest at all times. In order to perceive "that her merchandise is good", she must examine it and determine its worth. If there is an imperfection, she will correct it instead of attempting to sell an inferior product as if it were flawless. This characteristic is taught in Leviticus 19:36: “Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” It is a very sad thing that such a person could not be found in Jerusalem. God spoke through Jeremiah to tell the people of Judah: "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” I fear that the same could be said of our nation today.
Whether we tell “white lies” or exaggerate the details, are we seeking the truth and dealing honestly? If we are asked to do something on the job, are we honest to God and our principles? In the workforce, I have been instructed to tell callers that someone is “out of the office” or “in a meeting”. Even something as “simple” as this is a test of our honesty. A better answer would be that they are unable to take the call or, if they are dodging the caller, tell them that you can take a message or assist them with any problems, avoiding the mention of what your coworker is doing. I have known Christians whose consciences have been stricken by the things they are asked to do by management, and although they do not have another employer waiting in the wings, they have made the decision to trust God and do the right thing. In some cases, the employee has been terminated, in other cases the employee has chosen to willfully terminate. Such Christians show great faith in the Lord and are some of the greatest examples of using honest scales and seeking the truth.
This verse also teaches a great lesson in worthiness and is one that I must personally strive to learn. When a woman of God who has obeyed the gospel does her very best, examines her life against the Word, repents of all sin and strives to always live faithfully, she “perceives that her merchandise is good.” As humans, we will never live up to the perfect example of Christ and we will never attain salvation through our own works because no human is without sin. We must discipline our body daily (II Corinthians 9:27) to ensure that we are living for God and we must test ourselves by always comparing ourselves to the perfect model of Christ and the commandments of the Lord (II Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 6:4, I Thessalonians 5:21, James 1:3).
Having stated this, there is a sense in which we must know that mistakes will be made or else we would not need a Savior. It is a serious business to continually test our faith and actions to ensure they will stand but we must also feel the peace and comfort that we are saved through Christ. Paul had a healthy outlook in that he considered himself the “chief” of sinners (I Timothy 1:15) yet He boasted in the Lord (II Corinthians 10:17, Galatians 6:14). In other words, by himself, he was worthless but with Christ, he could “do all things” (Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13). That is a very uplifting example for us as women to have. We are of great worth when we are part of the body of Christ.
“She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle” Proverbs 31:19. This passage further conveys the idea of diligence and dogged determination. It describes a woman completely committed to her task. True commitment and loyalty are values that are nearly nonexistent in today’s society. Gone are the days when everyone was committed to his job, such as the milkman and postman that delivered items to the front door and greeted each of their customers. The only way to understand such a notion today is to watch reruns of Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver. There are certainly kind and caring postal and delivery workers today, but more often than not, our mail marked “Do not bend” is shoved into the mailbox and folded in half to make it fit in order to save walking a few feet to our door or writing up a slip for us to pick up the package at the post office. A shipping employee leaves boxes at our door without knocking. (I think he’s afraid I’ll release the hounds at the front window!) Thankfully, no one has decided to steal the packages before we discover them later as we open the door and stumble over them.
At any rate, it seems that personal service is a thing of the past. Cashiers roll their eyes when there is a price check or completely fail to acknowledge their customers. Often, the only thing they say to us is the total price. It is interesting to note that at some businesses, the credit card swipe asks if the associate has been helpful that day. I wonder what the tally is for the average associate and whether most people who swipe their card are honest.
Commitment to marriage and family has decreased rapidly in our "me first" world. The idea of "falling out of love" is not a Biblical concept. In fact, the very word for the love we should have for God and fellow man is “agape”, an unconditional, sacrificial love. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). “Eros”, or infatuation and sexual love, is not to be the driving force behind marriage. “Feeling love” or being “in love” is not the same as sacrificing for love and remaining committed, even in the dark times. God loved us (agape) when we were unlovable (I John 4:10, Romans 5:6-10). This is the same concept that we should have for our families, whether they act deservedly or not (Colossians 3:18, I Peter 3:1). It is extremely important for us to teach our children throughout their lives to choose wisely when they marry because marriage is for life. It is true when someone states that they just aren’t in love with their spouse anymore or don’t feel the same way about them. Because they have abandoned their duty to love sacrificially and thus have broken their commitment to spouse and God, they indeed do not love their spouse anymore. This attitude does not reflect Biblical teachings of what our love should be (agape) as marriage partners. Note that the only situation in which the marriage bond may be broken except by death is by the spouse who has been wronged by adultery, a sexual act outside of marriage (Matthew 5:32; 19:9, Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3). This does not change the fact that God hates divorce and we would do well to consider this very carefully before a decision is made in an adulterous relationship. Our spouse and children's souls may be at stake if the spouse later remarries or influences the children to make wrong decisions in their own marriages later. “Marriage should be honored by all” Hebrews 13:4.
The virtuous woman does not fail to give herself wholeheartedly to the task at hand. We need hard workers in the kingdom as well. Wherever God can use us, we should do our best to fulfill the task with cheerfulness. Imagine walking into a business where everyone is truly happy to see you and says “Hello”. Whenever you look for someone to help you locate an item, they do not avoid your eyes and scurry away but instead smile and walk over to you to assist. When you check out at the cash register, the cashier smiles and asks how you are doing with genuine concern and the person bagging your groceries takes great care to ensure that your bread and eggs are not smashed. He or she then carries out your groceries to your car and wishes you well. Hard to imagine in a store that does not pay commission to their employees who do these things? It shouldn’t be, if we who are Christians live according to our names’ sake. “Christian” means a follower of Christ and one who professes belief in His teachings. We should think twice before telling people we are Christians if we are not willing to do what Christ says and live according to His example and teachings.
Honesty is not limited to working outside of the home. Our family members need for us to be completely honest with them. This does not mean that we should go around telling everyone that we wouldn’t be caught dead in their outfit or that we find what they said to be hurtful when it is something that is of little consequence. We are not perfect ourselves. Honesty also does not mean sharing every minor detail about ourselves with others, preventing us from listening to what others have to say. In fact, James wrote, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” James 1:19. This means that we should keep our mouth shut if our comments are not constructive and be active listeners.
On the other hand, if we are asked to tell the truth about something, we should answer truthfully with carefulness, striving to speak in love. We can temper the things that we say by placing ourselves in the other person’s shoes and thinking of how we would like to be told something. For example, if my hair is a mess and I ask someone, “Do you like my hair?”, I would rather be told that she preferred my former style as opposed to hearing, “No, it’s just downright horrible”. If I am acting in a way that is inappropriate as a Christian or state something that is incorrect, I would like to be told in honesty and love. It might be hurtful to hear, “You are a hypocrite” rather than, “I’m concerned about something you did”. While I may be acting hypocritically, there are better ways to teach me than by a critical demeanor. Personally, I'd rather be told unlovingly than not at all so that I can correct my mistakes, but these words could be quite devastating to a new Christian who has just begun to learn what is required of him. Our attitude is very important when correcting someone and our intent must be to save both of us: the one committing the sin and the one teaching.
Honesty does not mean that we should be judgmental and harsh but that we seek to help others, all the while remembering that we too are imperfect and can lose the race if we are not careful. “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” I Corinthians 9:26-27.
I hope that this study has been helpful to you as it has been to me. I plan to be out of town for several days so the next devotional may be delayed. Thank you for studying with me and God bless you and your family today.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Virtuous Woman – Earnest and Diligent
Today’s Passage: “She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.” Proverbs 31:16-17
Today’s lesson from The Virtuous Woman focuses on our responsibility to be earnest and diligent. This study will benefit me personally because I often do not complete a good work that I have begun. I plan to further study procrastination in a future study. At this time, we will focus on the Christian woman’s duty to be earnest and diligent as modeled by the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31.
The definition of “earnest” according to Merriam-Webster is a) a serious and intent mental state or b) a considerable or impressive degree or amount. Solomon taught, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...” Ecclesiastes 9:10. Whether we are working inside or outside of the home (or both), we are commanded to work earnestly to fulfill our obligations. This virtue grows more and more difficult as the distractions around us increase. Because of this, I periodically introduce new ideas into my life to help me combat these constant interferences. Some examples are listed below. Please note that this is not a list of what I accomplish each day but is a list of goals and ideals. In no way do I perfectly complete all of these things every day and am always in need of repentance for allowing myself to be distracted from my tasks. I can assure you, I need this study as much as or more than you.
1. Keeping a task list complete with a box to check off each thing that I have accomplished that day
2. Working up a schedule by 15 minute intervals detailing my responsibilities for the day
Turning off the TV and radio during the day. I find these to be major distractions because I always hear snippets of interesting news that I want to know more about. At the close of the day, did I really need to know what every Saints player felt about the pre-season game they just played? Did it improve my life to know that there were a large number of horribly violent acts committed in the United States today and to hear every detail?
3. Saving a prayer request spreadsheet on my PC so that it is easy to update and reprint and will ensure I don’t forget anyone. It’s a great way to see how God answers prayer as various people heal or situations are resolved.
4. Checking off the prayer requests, new members and other important items in our weekly church bulletin as I’ve sent a card or called.
5. Unplugging the Internet connection to my PC or laptop in order to ensure I don’t allow myself to wander on a different tangent as I research a devotional topic.
6. Keeping a spreadsheet of medical bills and items our family is responsible for paying as well as the amount we have decided to give to God to ensure we are frugal, productive and ethical in our payment agreements.
7. Striving to spend as much time as I can with God in study and with my family.
8. Studying to keep foremost on my mind the reason I am here and my duty to my fellow man.
The strength described in Proverbs 31 is related to earnestness. It is the perseverance and diligence with which we face our tasks. We are to work hard in the Lord and not “grow weary” (Revelation 2:3). Also, we read in Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Our reward is worth any amount of hard work we put forth on this earth.
There are many Scriptures regarding Christians’ duty to work earnestly and diligently in the Lord. Below are a few examples.
“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” Proverbs 27:23
“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10:4
“If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.” Ecclesiastes 10:18
"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God”. Titus 2:3-5
“Besides, they (younger widows) get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander." I Timothy 5:13-14
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
Being busy without regard to being busy in the work of the Lord: “ ‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.’” Haggai 1:9
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6
May this study remind us to be diligent, hard working and always looking forward to our sweet haven of rest. If we are willing to work earnestly in God’s kingdom in this life, we will receive the rest that He has promised in the next life.
God bless you for studying with me!
Today’s lesson from The Virtuous Woman focuses on our responsibility to be earnest and diligent. This study will benefit me personally because I often do not complete a good work that I have begun. I plan to further study procrastination in a future study. At this time, we will focus on the Christian woman’s duty to be earnest and diligent as modeled by the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31.
The definition of “earnest” according to Merriam-Webster is a) a serious and intent mental state or b) a considerable or impressive degree or amount. Solomon taught, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...” Ecclesiastes 9:10. Whether we are working inside or outside of the home (or both), we are commanded to work earnestly to fulfill our obligations. This virtue grows more and more difficult as the distractions around us increase. Because of this, I periodically introduce new ideas into my life to help me combat these constant interferences. Some examples are listed below. Please note that this is not a list of what I accomplish each day but is a list of goals and ideals. In no way do I perfectly complete all of these things every day and am always in need of repentance for allowing myself to be distracted from my tasks. I can assure you, I need this study as much as or more than you.
1. Keeping a task list complete with a box to check off each thing that I have accomplished that day
2. Working up a schedule by 15 minute intervals detailing my responsibilities for the day
Turning off the TV and radio during the day. I find these to be major distractions because I always hear snippets of interesting news that I want to know more about. At the close of the day, did I really need to know what every Saints player felt about the pre-season game they just played? Did it improve my life to know that there were a large number of horribly violent acts committed in the United States today and to hear every detail?
3. Saving a prayer request spreadsheet on my PC so that it is easy to update and reprint and will ensure I don’t forget anyone. It’s a great way to see how God answers prayer as various people heal or situations are resolved.
4. Checking off the prayer requests, new members and other important items in our weekly church bulletin as I’ve sent a card or called.
5. Unplugging the Internet connection to my PC or laptop in order to ensure I don’t allow myself to wander on a different tangent as I research a devotional topic.
6. Keeping a spreadsheet of medical bills and items our family is responsible for paying as well as the amount we have decided to give to God to ensure we are frugal, productive and ethical in our payment agreements.
7. Striving to spend as much time as I can with God in study and with my family.
8. Studying to keep foremost on my mind the reason I am here and my duty to my fellow man.
The strength described in Proverbs 31 is related to earnestness. It is the perseverance and diligence with which we face our tasks. We are to work hard in the Lord and not “grow weary” (Revelation 2:3). Also, we read in Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Our reward is worth any amount of hard work we put forth on this earth.
There are many Scriptures regarding Christians’ duty to work earnestly and diligently in the Lord. Below are a few examples.
“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” Proverbs 27:23
“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10:4
“If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.” Ecclesiastes 10:18
"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God”. Titus 2:3-5
“Besides, they (younger widows) get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander." I Timothy 5:13-14
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
Being busy without regard to being busy in the work of the Lord: “ ‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.’” Haggai 1:9
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6
May this study remind us to be diligent, hard working and always looking forward to our sweet haven of rest. If we are willing to work earnestly in God’s kingdom in this life, we will receive the rest that He has promised in the next life.
God bless you for studying with me!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Virtuous Woman: Hardworking and Organized
Today’s Passage: “She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants” Proverbs 31:13-15.
Last week, we began our study of the virtuous woman from Proverbs 31. The previous study focused on the style of poetry and considered that trustworthiness is a necessary quality in order for us to be pleasing to God. Today’s study is centered on verses 13-15. It is important that when reading this passage, we do not focus so much on the specific things that the virtuous woman does but the manner in which she does them. In other words, it might be tempting for us to think, “These descriptions do not apply to me today because I buy my groceries and clothing in stores.” God’s purpose for this example is to teach us the spirit of a virtuous woman and her willingness to go to great lengths in order to provide for her family, so indeed it is very applicable.
On the other hand, we may read these verses and think, “This standard of perfection is unattainable”. We may disregard the entire passage because we feel that the standard is set much higher than today’s woman can possibly achieve. Again, this is not a checklist so much as a description of how we are to behave as women of God. As we study each passage, I will seek to apply it to today’s society through the writings of the New Testament. I believe that this study is very valuable to us because it is detailed and therefore very useful for us to understand our roles as women. Also, we will see in the final lesson that there is great reward for our service as women of God.
“She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.”
A woman of great worth and value to God and to her family is a woman who will work with her hands. We may not be the greatest seamstresses in the world and because of the ease at which we can buy clothing today, there may be little need for us to be able to spin and weave; however, we should have a spirit that seeks to work and not be idle. We should make the most of the talents that God has given us and use them in His service. Additionally, if we find ourselves in a predicament in which we are unable to purchase clothes and coverings for our family, we should be willing to make use of what we do have in order to care for them.
Unfortunately, in this age of uncertainty regarding employment, Social Security and 401(k) worth, some women are finding themselves in situations that they have never before experienced. They are unable to afford the items that they once purchased for their family and some have had to improvise by selling treasured items and cooking more meals at home. While credit card usage has decreased, “coupon use is increasing after 15 years of decline”.1 Women are finding new ways to stretch their dollars while providing for their families’ needs.
A Christian should be ready to sacrifice her own desires for those of her family. God commands us to “consider others better than yourselves” in Philippians 2:3. In fact, the primary way that we show others of our relationship with Jesus was revealed by Christ in John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." True love is willing to sacrifice our own needs for those of others. By working hard for our family, we exhibit the characteristic of the virtuous woman who “willingly works with her hands”.
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar” Proverbs 31:13.
In Old Testament times, there were no 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenters to pick up necessary items. The woman of God made sure that she took care of her family’s needs by traveling to the marketplace or wherever necessary to buy supplies. Some of you are familiar with this today because you live in remote areas and plan your trips into town carefully. Others of us can go all hours of the night just around the corner for depleted household goods. Regardless of the method in which we provide, this verse reminds us that we are to work for our families and be willing to take care of their needs.
She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservant” Proverbs 31:14-15.
If we are women of God, we will get up at night to care for a sick child. If our family arrives home at various times of the day, we should ensure that food is available for them. Thankfully, we have refrigerators and microwaves today, but in Old Testament times, preparing meals and keeping food on hand required a bit more planning. Although not everyone could afford to hire maidservants, the idea of taking care of every person for whom we are responsible was applicable then and it is still applicable today. Some care for elderly parents while others provide for handicapped children. Some women serve as foster parents for orphaned children and still others provide food for the sick and the shut-ins. God expects us to take care of others and provide for them when the need arises.
An interesting observation by Matthew Henry is that the virtuous (or excellent) woman “rises early, while it is yet night, to give her servants their breakfast, that they may be ready to go cheerfully about their work as soon as the day breaks. She is none of those who sit up playing at cards, or dancing, till midnight, till morning, and then lie in bed till noon. No; the virtuous woman loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure, is in care to be found in the way of her duty every hour of the day, and has more true satisfaction in having given meat to her household betimes in the morning than those can have in the money they have won, much more in what they have lost, who sat up all night at play. Those that have a family to take care of should not love their bed too well in a morning.”2
I must say that his words cause me to think inward of myself. I have indeed stayed up too late doing or watching things that did not mean a thing to me the next day. It is easy to get caught up in worldly hobbies and interests so much that it interferes with the amount of prayer and study our souls actually need. Though Matthew Henry’s words were not inspired like the writings of Proverbs, they are indeed thought provoking. I especially like the comments that she “loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure” and that women “should not love their bed too well in a morning”. I am not sure if Henry had in mind a particular woman who was fond of cards, money and dancing all night, but indeed it makes for an interesting take on the Scripture. At any rate, the virtuous woman is certainly more concerned with the needs of her family than playing all day or neglecting her chores.
Another characteristic that is brought to light in the study of these passages is that a woman of God should be organized. If her day is not prioritized, it will be difficult to fulfill the commands that are required of her. God wants us to be industrious and efficient, but He does expect us to enjoy ourselves while seeing to our tasks. Work done in drudgery and without cheerfulness may provide for our families' needs, but it will not help them feel loved. As we just read in John, we must love one another.
The next lesson will continue our study of Proverbs 31. I hope that you have gained insight that perhaps you had not considered before or that the study has called to mind things that you had forgotten. I believe that this passage is very applicable to today and should cause us to reflect on our own words and actions and repent of anything amiss in our lives. I have benefited from the study and have learned some things that I missed during former readings of this passage.
God bless you as women seeking to serve the Lord. May you and your families find peace and comfort through God’s Word today.
1 http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/2008-11-16-thrift-saving-frugal_N.htm
2 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Old Testament, Electronic Edition STEP Files, 2000, findex.com
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Priceless Pearls are daily devotionals for women to remind us of Christ's love for us and how we can grow as Christian women in today's society.
To receive these daily devotionals, please choose one of the following options:
Via BLOG (Atom/RSS Feed): Click on your Feed button or the Atom link at http://pricelesspearlsdevotionals.blogspot.com/
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Via Website: Bookmark our devotionals page to read the devotionals online http://pricelesspearlsdevotionals.blogspot.com/.
Visit us online for Bible study and teaching resources:
http://www.pricelesspearlsdevotionals.com
If you have any comments, suggestions or requests, please contact the author at contact@pricelesspearlsdevotionals.com
Thank you for joining our new community. God bless you as you seek to follow His will.
Last week, we began our study of the virtuous woman from Proverbs 31. The previous study focused on the style of poetry and considered that trustworthiness is a necessary quality in order for us to be pleasing to God. Today’s study is centered on verses 13-15. It is important that when reading this passage, we do not focus so much on the specific things that the virtuous woman does but the manner in which she does them. In other words, it might be tempting for us to think, “These descriptions do not apply to me today because I buy my groceries and clothing in stores.” God’s purpose for this example is to teach us the spirit of a virtuous woman and her willingness to go to great lengths in order to provide for her family, so indeed it is very applicable.
On the other hand, we may read these verses and think, “This standard of perfection is unattainable”. We may disregard the entire passage because we feel that the standard is set much higher than today’s woman can possibly achieve. Again, this is not a checklist so much as a description of how we are to behave as women of God. As we study each passage, I will seek to apply it to today’s society through the writings of the New Testament. I believe that this study is very valuable to us because it is detailed and therefore very useful for us to understand our roles as women. Also, we will see in the final lesson that there is great reward for our service as women of God.
“She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.”
A woman of great worth and value to God and to her family is a woman who will work with her hands. We may not be the greatest seamstresses in the world and because of the ease at which we can buy clothing today, there may be little need for us to be able to spin and weave; however, we should have a spirit that seeks to work and not be idle. We should make the most of the talents that God has given us and use them in His service. Additionally, if we find ourselves in a predicament in which we are unable to purchase clothes and coverings for our family, we should be willing to make use of what we do have in order to care for them.
Unfortunately, in this age of uncertainty regarding employment, Social Security and 401(k) worth, some women are finding themselves in situations that they have never before experienced. They are unable to afford the items that they once purchased for their family and some have had to improvise by selling treasured items and cooking more meals at home. While credit card usage has decreased, “coupon use is increasing after 15 years of decline”.1 Women are finding new ways to stretch their dollars while providing for their families’ needs.
A Christian should be ready to sacrifice her own desires for those of her family. God commands us to “consider others better than yourselves” in Philippians 2:3. In fact, the primary way that we show others of our relationship with Jesus was revealed by Christ in John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." True love is willing to sacrifice our own needs for those of others. By working hard for our family, we exhibit the characteristic of the virtuous woman who “willingly works with her hands”.
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar” Proverbs 31:13.
In Old Testament times, there were no 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenters to pick up necessary items. The woman of God made sure that she took care of her family’s needs by traveling to the marketplace or wherever necessary to buy supplies. Some of you are familiar with this today because you live in remote areas and plan your trips into town carefully. Others of us can go all hours of the night just around the corner for depleted household goods. Regardless of the method in which we provide, this verse reminds us that we are to work for our families and be willing to take care of their needs.
She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservant” Proverbs 31:14-15.
If we are women of God, we will get up at night to care for a sick child. If our family arrives home at various times of the day, we should ensure that food is available for them. Thankfully, we have refrigerators and microwaves today, but in Old Testament times, preparing meals and keeping food on hand required a bit more planning. Although not everyone could afford to hire maidservants, the idea of taking care of every person for whom we are responsible was applicable then and it is still applicable today. Some care for elderly parents while others provide for handicapped children. Some women serve as foster parents for orphaned children and still others provide food for the sick and the shut-ins. God expects us to take care of others and provide for them when the need arises.
An interesting observation by Matthew Henry is that the virtuous (or excellent) woman “rises early, while it is yet night, to give her servants their breakfast, that they may be ready to go cheerfully about their work as soon as the day breaks. She is none of those who sit up playing at cards, or dancing, till midnight, till morning, and then lie in bed till noon. No; the virtuous woman loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure, is in care to be found in the way of her duty every hour of the day, and has more true satisfaction in having given meat to her household betimes in the morning than those can have in the money they have won, much more in what they have lost, who sat up all night at play. Those that have a family to take care of should not love their bed too well in a morning.”2
I must say that his words cause me to think inward of myself. I have indeed stayed up too late doing or watching things that did not mean a thing to me the next day. It is easy to get caught up in worldly hobbies and interests so much that it interferes with the amount of prayer and study our souls actually need. Though Matthew Henry’s words were not inspired like the writings of Proverbs, they are indeed thought provoking. I especially like the comments that she “loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure” and that women “should not love their bed too well in a morning”. I am not sure if Henry had in mind a particular woman who was fond of cards, money and dancing all night, but indeed it makes for an interesting take on the Scripture. At any rate, the virtuous woman is certainly more concerned with the needs of her family than playing all day or neglecting her chores.
Another characteristic that is brought to light in the study of these passages is that a woman of God should be organized. If her day is not prioritized, it will be difficult to fulfill the commands that are required of her. God wants us to be industrious and efficient, but He does expect us to enjoy ourselves while seeing to our tasks. Work done in drudgery and without cheerfulness may provide for our families' needs, but it will not help them feel loved. As we just read in John, we must love one another.
The next lesson will continue our study of Proverbs 31. I hope that you have gained insight that perhaps you had not considered before or that the study has called to mind things that you had forgotten. I believe that this passage is very applicable to today and should cause us to reflect on our own words and actions and repent of anything amiss in our lives. I have benefited from the study and have learned some things that I missed during former readings of this passage.
God bless you as women seeking to serve the Lord. May you and your families find peace and comfort through God’s Word today.
1 http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/2008-11-16-thrift-saving-frugal_N.htm
2 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Old Testament, Electronic Edition STEP Files, 2000, findex.com
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Priceless Pearls are daily devotionals for women to remind us of Christ's love for us and how we can grow as Christian women in today's society.
To receive these daily devotionals, please choose one of the following options:
Via BLOG (Atom/RSS Feed): Click on your Feed button or the Atom link at http://pricelesspearlsdevotionals.blogspot.com/
Via EMAIL: Visit our Yahoo group site to receive via email http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pricelesspearls/
Via Website: Bookmark our devotionals page to read the devotionals online http://pricelesspearlsdevotionals.blogspot.com/.
Visit us online for Bible study and teaching resources:
http://www.pricelesspearlsdevotionals.com
If you have any comments, suggestions or requests, please contact the author at contact@pricelesspearlsdevotionals.com
Thank you for joining our new community. God bless you as you seek to follow His will.
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