Proverbs 31

Proactive and Provider  Virtuous Woman 1x05  Proverbs 31:14- She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.  You have to make an effort to get quality products and good things out of life. You can get these through prayer and other religious exercises. You will receive faith, hope, and be able to weather the storms of life.  Women must look for opportunities and be a good steward of their possessions. It is important to purchase quality goods even if it's harder to obtain. Extend your operations beyond your neighborhood. Don't let distance stop you from getting what is best for you and your family.  Merchant ships are like online vendors, but you still need to do your research and make sure your investments are wise. You can vet vendors out by reputable sources like the better business bureau.  Acts 16:14- Lydia was a seller of purple. She was active and didn't stay at home. It is a false expression that woman have to stay at home, they certainly can, and it is a noble work. Angel's father would say stay at home moms are like domestic engineers, but that's not to say they can't go out and be business women or pursue other professions as well.  Satan and his demons can be like magicians with their lies. They may not have real power, but only slight of hand and trickery. Their goal is to make us believe their lies and create space between us and God. What if we Christians hold the power. We don't have to fall for their deception. If we stay in the word and in the light of God it is easy to see the illusion. Our emotions can be such a driving force in our lives, but if we stand firm on God and his word, we cannot be easily swayed.  We need to bless those who curse us. Matthew 5:43-45 says, '"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.'  What we think about is what we say and what we say is what we give power to. We have a choice each day to either use our power to bless or curse. God made us in his image. God created everything from speaking. What you say can either lift up or destroy.   Deuteronomy 30:19-  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.  We chose life in our actions and speech.   Proverbs 18:20-21 says, 'From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.  We obtain blessings from Heaven by speaking God's truth and promises over everything. God has given everything to us to be good stewards of. We need to care for this world.  If you are ever wondering if something is God's will, then ask yourself if God would permit it in Heaven, if not, then you have your answer. If what is going on in your life is not God's will then it is time to send those merchant ships out and gather what is God's best and what he has wanted us to have all along.  Matthew Henry's Commentary says she can be trusted. The Proverbs 31 woman is entrusted to provide food. It's ironic that this woman is in charge of such a task, when not long before, Eve made such a grave decision to take fruit off of the forbidden tree. She was so easily deceived and now there is death and sin in the world. Thank the Lord for a savior and for second chances.  We all fall short and make mistakes. It's not a matter of if, but when. The mistake isn't necessarily important, but it's how we recover and respond that makes the difference between God's people and the rest of the world.  Closing encouragement: The proverbs 31 woman has set a high bar. Don't beat yourself up if your life gets messy and you're not able to do it all. It can be detrimental to your own wellbeing. Prioritize the health and wellbeing of yourself and your family. Cutting a corner isn't the end of the world. 

Shopping and Productive   Virtuous Woman 1x04   Proverbs 31:13- She looks for wool and linen, and works with her hands in delight.   A "domestic engineer" carefully selects and provides for their family. These days we don't buy wool and flax, but often times women do the majority of the shopping for their families. It is important to be wise and knowledgeable as a shopper and it can take some skill to do it well.   During this COVID pandemic toilet paper was a hot commodity and it was important to not panic buy, but also be able to provide for your family and those in need.   God wants us to well informed and prepared. In Amos 3:7 it says, "Certainly the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret plan to His servants the prophets."   In John 10:4 it says, "When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." Jesus is the good shepherd. We need to know his voice and how he speaks to us through His word.   We need to be selective in who we listen to and be able to discern if it of good or evil.   Philippians 4:8- Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.   We MUST dwell on what is good. Police your thoughts because negativity can be poison. We aren't supposed to stick our heads in the sand and ignore reality in this broken world, but we can't let it affect us.   Jill shares her experience in budgeting her family of four on a limited budget. The Tightwad Gazette was life saver from saving on small things like toothpaste to clothing. To this day she never uses a clothes dryer and only shops by unit price when getting groceries. As women we have the opportunity to financially save for our family, serve, and sacrifice our time.   The pandemic has made everyone reassess their life and circumstances. It's time to start considering the cost. Luke 14:28-32- For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This person began to build, and was not able to finish!' Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace.   Angel urges us to keep God at the forefront of our lives and be eager to work for him because he will always take care of us. Psalm 23 tells us that we shall not want. God is enough for us. We need to listen to Him and what He wants for us because He knows what is best for us. We need to eagerly live to glorify Him in all we do.

Blesses and Perseveres   Virtuous Woman 1x03  Proverbs 31:12- She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.   This verse means that we are to do good to those around us and when we do, we are emulating God. It's important to remember who our enemy is because it's not those we choose to hate. We are supposed to love our "enemies" the only true enemy is Satan and his demons. We need to keep it all in perspective.   No one should intend to bring harm to anyone, especially our spouse. Somehow it still happens and we need to try to nip it in the bud. You need to be a helpmate and give your spouse what they need. It's important to do it kindly and not begrudgingly.   Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.  Galatians 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.   God has a plan for us and we have to wait upon it patiently. The Israelites weren't patient and they got in major trouble for it.    Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.   When there is conflict in the household it can feel like a warzone. We all think we are in the right and the other is wrong, but it's not that black and white. Angel's sister has 5 kids and if they fought both would get in trouble. One got in trouble for not being kind and the other for not being a peace maker. This really forced them to get along and now they are young adults and very close.    Sometimes in argument it gets to the point where talking, or most of the time, yelling profits nothing. It just makes things worse. We aren't supposed to fix other people. There is enough work that needs to be done on ourselves. Fight your battles through prayer with your head bowed in full submission to the situation. God can handle the other person. He can work with people who have a humble heart. Don't let your anger harden your heart and ruin your spirit.   When someone loves Jesus it can't help, but show in them. We should be overflowing in God's goodness and grace. We need to pray in every situation.   James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.   We are made in the image of God and He does good things. He blesses people. We should do likewise! God doesn't change. There is no ulterior motive or wavering.   Matthew 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.   You are supposed to do good all the days of your life, even after the honeymoon period. To run the race we need to be fit. We need to run even if our spouse isn't. We get judged according to our own life and deeds.   We need to have a firm follow through when we run. It was said in a sermon Jill heard at her daughter's church that Olympians and professional athletes run to win. They train, get fit, and never give up. They aren't huffing and puffing struggling to finish or doing it nonchalantly. Jill had to ask herself if she was running aimlessly. We all have to do a mental check: Is Jesus in our heart? Is Jesus in our mind? Is Jesus in our feet? I think a lot of people put emphasis on the first two, but skip the latter. We all need to step out in faith and live our faith.   Put faith into action! The pandemic has made everyone scared and just withdraw into our shell, but to stick our neck out there and help others is what we need to be doing! It's easy to get lost, but if God is good all the time how do bad things still happen. God allows bad things to happen, but that doesn't mean He put it into place. We need to evaluate ourself and take the temperature of our faith. It might surprise us to find some of the things that are in our heart.   Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.   Malachi 3:8-12 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the Lord of hosts. "All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land," says the Lord of hosts.   God has good intentions for us. He wants to bless us, but we also need to bless and glorify Him. We can't hold back and expect Him to give us plentifully. He keeps His promises.   The pandemic and tragedy is a great time to get back to God. We need to ask Him to heal our land. We need to be patient and wait upon the Lord and His goodness. Instant gratification has spoiled us. God's greatness is worth waiting on. We just need to persevere and continue to do His work. 

Trustworthy and Prepared Virtuous Woman 1x02 Proverbs 31:11- Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.   To be able to have full confidence in someone means that you can trust them. You can trust their word and depend on them. The woman described in Proverbs 31 is just that. Sometimes it's uncomfortable to speak truth, but it is essential. The latter part of the verse says lacks nothing of value. That means to us that she is always at the ready. Readiness requires preparation!   This verse holds women to a high standard. Sometimes we associate valuableness with high price tags, but some of the most valuable things we can give is our heart, love, trust, and time. In a marriage a spouse shouldn't lack any of those things. You have to plan to succeed, not fail. In Angel's experience she didn't want to sign a prenuptial agreement because that felt like planning for the end before their marriage even began. Things have been inevitably rocky, but as she credits God and his grace and the commitment her and her husband both share as to how they have made it to 25 years of marriage.   Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.   We will fail to meet that standard, but we are given many opportunities to prove our trustworthiness and also ask for forgiveness and give it. We need to remember that we are imperfect and so is our spouse. God requires us to forgive other, if we don't then He has said that He won't forgive us. Many are willing to receive God's forgiveness, but slow to give it to other people. This should include your relationship with your spouse! We should let go of the wrong people have done against us. That doesn't mean that it's easily done. It is still a process, but a necessary one.   Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.   Jill attributes her business success in her company to being a trustworthy Christian. People can rely on her and her team to get the job done.   Col 3:22-23 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,   God knows what we need. He will always provide for us and sometimes he tells us no. As a parent it is hard to tell your children no, but it is sometimes needed and for their betterment.   Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.   Proverbs 2:6-8 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.   Before Angel was married she tried to cover all the bases with her now husband in the 8 years leading up to their marriage. They talked about everything. All that preparation didn't stop her expectations from not being met when they did get married. She thought they would always eat together, go to bed at the same time, and have all the same interests. That couldn't have been further from reality. There was misery in their marriage because they realized their marriage wasn't what they thought it would be. She had to rely on Jesus and find a church where she could grow. Friends became a big help to her as well. Their marriage healed, but it's still not perfect and no one's will be. We are all flawed.   Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.   Jill elaborates on her failed marriage as being great in the beginning unlike Angel's. They did everything together and had a "7 year honeymoon", but in the end when it came to starting a family all those similarities and experiences together couldn't save them in the end. God wasn't at the center, so it all fell apart. A great beginning doesn't always promise a great ending if God isn't in control of your life.   Our brokenness helps others navigate. We all fall down and make mistakes, but we get back up and keep our eyes on God. He is also ready for us. He has prepared a place for us! Live a life like you are going to receive that gift and be the kind of person God is giving it to. Have the wisdom to prepare for the future. God is a big God and he will help up overcome anything. Marital struggles have nothing on our God!

Noble Character and Pricelessness  Virtuous Woman 1x01  Introduction to the hosts Jill and Angel. Jill is a mother of two, one boy and one girl. They are in their twenties and polar opposites. She has owned her own business for 23 years and has a lot of experience under her belt. Angel has one teenaged daughter and has been working with Jill for 16 years.  Scripture reading from Proverbs 31:10- A wife of noble character who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.  The definition of noble has two meanings. One being of a noble family and at first you think that doesn't apply, but if you think about it we are children of the King of kings. We were made in His image. In fact, in Romans 8:17 it says, 'Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…'. The second definition is having or showing fine personal qualities or high morals. At first glance this is the most applicable, but they go hand in hand. If we are a child of the most high and most noble God, then we should also embody those characteristics.  She is worth far more than rubies which is also synonymous with pricelessness. God had perfection and he chose to create something imperfect. He loves us and gave his son for us. We are his undeserving children who are priceless to his. We don't have anything figured out and we are all a work in progress. This life is pretty rough sometimes and sometimes we need to envision ourselves climbing into God's lap and being held. He is there for us, to protect us, to help us, and to love us. Life is hard and sometimes we need to become childlike to rely on God.  Character can also be our reputation. Reputation is very important and it can be hard to get it back once you lose it. People need to be able to trust you. If you think about Paul, he did a complete 180 from persecuting Christians to becoming a missionary, so it is possible to change. However, once he saw the light and repented, people were still hesitant and scared of him, but God forgives, and Paul's character was able to shine though. We need to remain faithful even when it is hard. Job for example, was thrown all the lemons in the world and he still stood firm. Reputations are important in the workplace, community, and the home.  Ruth was known as a woman of noble standing in the entire community. This is what we need to strive for. Sometimes you will encounter people who will put you down or try to cause you to stumble, but you have to brush it off and continue on the Lord's path.  Romans 5 tells us that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Sometimes we are asked to step into rolls in the kingdom that we don't feel we are ready for, but with study, preparation, and guidance we can do all things. God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. God work though us to accomplish His will.   You are not born with noble character. It is cultivated though study and the church.  It can be frustrating working with children because they have their own thoughts, opinions, and personalities. You need a united front as parents and strive to them well rounded and invested in the church. The little things you do in their lives form writing a note in their lunch box to tucking them in at night, it all matters. Even in the midst of battle you have to hang in there. Kids are like raptors, they always test, but they never test the same place twice. You can feel like you are constantly under attack, but if you stick with it you can make it though. Jill's experience with her son tested her will and now he is able to see that she was fighting for him all along, not against him. She wants women to know that they need to pace themselves and stick with it. That journey is priceless.  Angel's husband will call her priceless beyond rubies even though she struggles to accept it. However, we need to ground ourselves in what God says about us and not what we feel because emotions are powerful, yet fleeting. Anchor yourself in the Lord and His truth. You shouldn't always trust your heart.  Jeremiah 17:9- The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?  Following your heart or feelings can take you down a destructive path. You must use the Bible as your moral compass we need to follow it and trust it. God wants us to do the right thing and we motivated to do the right thing. Hebrews 4:12 says, 'For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.' He knows our heart more than anyone.  You must guard your heart, especially in your marriage. We aren't to lust after others even if it isn't backed by action. Don't make connections with someone of the opposite sex that isn't your husband. The bond between husband and wife is the most sacred relationship other than that of you and God. It can be a slippery slope.  Closing verses: Hebrews 12:14 says, 'Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.' It's important to remember humility isn't about thinking less about yourself, but thinking about yourself less. You are the way people can see God, so use it!  Philippians 4:13 says, 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.' His standards are impossible to reach on our own. We need him to strengthen and guide us and He will help us to do whatever He calls us into.