Lesson 4 - Proverbs 31: A Diligent Woman; Keeper of the Home

Hello Ladies,

I hope you all enjoyed last week's lesson. The application portion challenged me.  As I minister to you, I am also ministering to myself.  While the majority of my home is de-cluttered, I still have some areas that could use a good overhaul.  We all have our blind spots.  We must maintain accountability to keep the adversary from using our blind spots for his purpose.  You, among three other wonderful women in my life, hold me accountable.  I cannot encourage you to do something that I am not practicing myself.  So I cleaned out a few more areas in my home.  I try to do it every time the seasons change.  However,  this exercise allowed me to go over it with a fine tooth comb.  There are about 10 bags, waiting, to be picked up by charity in my front hallway.  We really do not need all the stuff we think we need.  People all over the world live with a lot less. So, I hope you had some progress with de-cluttering this week as well.

Additionally, I pray that you have been consistent in your time with the Lord.  I find that having time with the Lord allows me to enjoy such pleasant days.  Even when I am faced with adversity, God gives me such an inner peace to face those challenges.  A peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).  Someday, I will share my entire testimony of inner peace, maybe in a book, so you can better understand my passion for finding it.

A Diligent Woman; Keeper of the Home

20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet 22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:20-22, 27 NKJV).

She is careful to fill up time that none be lost. She rises early. She applies herself to business proper for her, women's business.  She does what she does with all power and trifles not.  She makes what she does turn to good account by prudent management.  Many undo themselves by buying without considering whether they can afford it.  She provides well for her house. She lays up for the thereafter. She looks well to the ways of her household, that she may oblige all to do their duty to God and one another, as well as to her.  She is intent upon giving as upon getting, and does it freely and cheerfully (Nelson 1997)

Why do you think God was so intent on detailing the characteristics and responsibilities of the Proverbs 31 woman?  Why do you think it is so important for us to understand her and implement the ways of the Proverbs 31 woman?

We have been designed as a help mate, a support, a foundation. 

Foundation - the basis on which something is grounded; the fundamental assumption from which something begins or is developed (WordWeb 2013).


The foundation we must lay starts at home. Yes, God requires us to be charitable, but charity starts at home (1 Timothy 5:8 NKJV).  Ladies, we cannot provide productive ministry outside the home if we have not ministered in our homes first.  We can minister to our families, husbands, and ourselves by keeping a clean home, grocery shopping, preparing meals, taking care of ourselves and our children.  We are the foundation to keep our men grounded. If our homes are not in order, then we are unable to minister the word of God to others effectively.  We must maintain the characteristics of a self-controlled, disciplined, and good-natured homemaker so that the word of the Lord will not return void (Titus 2:5 NKJV).

There is so much rich text here.  I could really write an entire book on these few scriptures, but I will try to keep it brief due to the medium in which I am writing.  However, I urge you to find a concordance and take these verses from last week's and today's blog and study them.  We need to understand that the magnitude of our habits, behaviors, attitudes, appearances, and disciplines affect our husbands, children, loved ones, friends, family, etc. Charitable living is ministry in itself (Romans 12:1 NKJV).  Therefore, we must set the standard and allow our husbands to dictate the pace.  Be a strong peaceable foundation for your husband and children.

Single women, again this does not exclude you.  The word of God specifies that your husband will find you (Proverbs 18:22 NKJV).  You have to be that "Good thing" in order to be found.  Just because you exist does not constitute you to be deemed a "Good thing". You must be that "Good thing" defined by the word of God (Proverbs 31:10-31 NKJV).   Again, ready yourself for your Adam.  Stay in the word of God.  Keep a good home and be charitable in the way you live.  Live virtuously out loud, so others may see Christ through you!

We all must live today as if our children's tomorrow depends on it (Shirer 2011).  This is not limited to birth children.  We are all children of God! (Galatians 3:24 NKJV)  We must charitably live today, setting an example, laying a foundation, for the children of Christ's tomorrow.  Again, we present our lives a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1 NKJV).  That means sacrificing our choice way of living  for God's way of living.

I pray that these verses penetrate your hearts and that your homes, lives, loved ones, and communities are blessed by your virtuous way of living.

This week, we will continue with the same applications we have practiced the past few weeks.  I urge you to stay diligent in your time with the Lord.  I have received many emails, text, Facebook post about how the time with the Lord is making a change for you.  Press on!  God is with us!  Furthermore, continue to get your house in order.  De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter!!!  You cannot imagine how de-cluttering is so liberating.  One young lady shared with me how blessed her husband was when he came home and the kitchen was cleared off.  She said that sat and talked for hours around the table that evening.  Ladies, we can do it!!!  The Lord is so interested in blessing us if we will just do the work!!!

I hope that you will have a blessed week!  Till we chat again, continue on your road to becoming a virtuous woman of God.

Be blessed,

T. Carter


References

All scripture references were extracted from The Holy Bible - New King James Version

Nelson, Thomas (1997).  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Shirer, Priscilla (2011).  The Resolution for Women. B&H Publishing Group. Nashville, Tennessee

WordWeb (2013). Foundation. Retrieved from the Apple App Store