Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #10 - Supportive

This is one was hard to research -the idea in my head needed some refining before it really made sense.

A godly woman is supportive.

"She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard....Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land." - V. 15, 16, 23

My thought here is that she is supporting her husband and family by rising early to make sure they are fed and ready for the day. She probably does not own the field herself, yet she supports her husband by being knowledgeable in the area of agriculture and property, and tending to some of the business. That frees her husband up to be out among the elders and influential in the community. I do not mean husband is throwing his duties on the wife’s shoulders, but simply that because he has a partner who is actively supporting their endeavors, he is able to be more successful.

Webster's Dictionary - Support: to promote the interests or cause of; to assist or help; to keep another from fainting, yielding, or losing courage; to keep something going

1. Genesis 2:18 - woman was created to help man

2. Ecclesiasties 4:9-12 - two are better than one, because they help each other
3. Luke 22:26-27 - the master is not better than the servant
4. John 13:12-15 - Jesus set an example of humbly serving others
5. Romans 12:10 - outdo each other in love and honor
6. Romans 15:1-6 - bear with one another and build each other up, to glorify God together

7. Romans 16:1-2 - Phebe was praised for the help and support she gave to others
8. 1 Corinthians 9:19 - freely serve others as an example of Christ
9. Galations 5:13 - serve one another in love
10. Galations 6:2 - bear each other's burdens
11. Philippians 2:1-8 - comfort and support each other, putting others first, even as Christ became a servant to all

12. Titus 2:5 - we are to be the keeper of the home

The “support” I talk of here is just a small part of the bigger picture of serving each other which we are all called to do as Christians. Jesus set us the greatest example of serving each other in love, and honoring each other. This harks back to the study of "self-sacrificing", but I think is even more active. 

Support and service is more than just yielding to another's wishes, or giving up your own desire for someone else's, it is actively working to promote and help the other person. Bearing each other's burdens, comforting each other, helping each other, honoring each other. Being the help and support that the other person can rely on, because two working together is far better than one struggling alone.

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #9 - Industrious

A godly woman is industrious. 

"She rises also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard." - v.15-16

"She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night. She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." - v.18-19

"She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple." - v.22

"She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant." v.24

"She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness." - v.27

Webster's Dictionary - Industrious: constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied

1. Proverbs 6:6-11 - the ant is diligent, we should not sleep away our days

2. Proverbs 10:4 - diligence makes rich

3. Proverbs 10:5 - it is wise to gather while there is plenty

4. Proverbs 12:11 - diligence provides needs

5. Proverbs 12:24 - sloth will make you dependent on others

6. Proverbs 12:27 - diligences does not waste what it worked hard to get

7. Proverbs 13:4 - diligence provides needs

8. Proverbs 14:4 - not working may be easier, but increase comes by hard work

9. Proverbs 19:15 - idleness causes hunger

10. Proverbs 20:13 - loving sleep brings poverty

11. Proverbs 22:29 - diligence will take you far in life

12. Proverbs 24:30-34 - the field of the slothful is overgrown and falling apart

13. Proverbs 30:24-28 - these small, industrious creatures are a wise example to us

14. Ecclessiasties 10:18 - idleness destroys your house

Proverbs seems to be the book about industry and hard work. It is a wise warning that we ought not to love sleep too much, because idleness brings hunger and poverty, and makes you dependent on others. The field of the slothful is overgrown and unable to produce, and their house is falling apart. 

Even very small creatures such as the act set a strong example for us of being industrious and working to provide our needs. 

Diligence and industry provides for our needs and our family's needs; it increases our resources and will take you far in life; and it does not waste what it worked hard to get. 

Not working may be easier, cleaner, and more comfortable, but increase comes only by hard work. 

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #8 - Economical

A godly woman is economical.

"She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar." - Proverbs 31:14

Webster's Dictionary - Economical: marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources; operating with little waste or at a saving.

A merchant's ship will travel far and wide searching for the best price and source for his goods; he will travel a great distance if it means a good deal. 

1. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 - God gives us the power to have wealth

2. Proverbs 13:11 - wealth gotten by labor will continue to grow

3. Proverbs 21:17 - our earthly pleasures will rob us of resources

4. Proverbs 21:20 - it is wise to store resources

5. Proverbs 24:3-4 - wisdom and knowledge will build your house and supply its need

6. Proverbs 27:23-27 - know the state of your resources, and tend them well

7. Matthew 25:15-30 - God has given us resources in this life and we need to use them wisely

In all matters of resources and money, we must remember that it is God who gives us the power to have wealth, not our own strength. Because God is the one who has given us these resources, we need to use them wisely. 

Wisdom and knowledge will build a strong house and supply your needs, and wealth gotten by hard work will continue to grow. It is wise to know the state of your resources and tend them well, and to save up some for future need. However, love of pleasure will rob you of your resources. 

It is important to remember that resources are not always monetary - your resources could be your time, skills, belongings, etc. A godly woman will use ALL of her resources economically.

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #7 - Willing to Work

"She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands." - Proverbs 31:13

Webster's Dictionary - Willing: inclined or favorably disposed in mind; prompt to act or respond; done by choice or without reluctance. 

Strong's Concordance - Willingly: pleasure, desire, delight, purpose

Being willing to work does not mean working just because it is our duty or job, but because it is our pleasure, desire, and purpose.

1. Genesis 2:15 - man was created to work, to keep the garden
2. Ruth 2 - she asked to work, to gather food for Naomi, and worked all day long
3. Psalm 128:1-2 - those who fear God will labor with their hands and enjoy the fruit of it
4. Proverbs 10:16 - righteous labor tends to life
5. Proverb 14:23 - labor produces more profit than talk
6. Proverbs 21:25 - refusing to work will cause your desires to destroy you
7. Ephesians 4:28 - don't steal; rather, work for yourself and so that you may bless others
8. Colossians 3:17 - whatever we do, we should do it with a thankful heart, and for the Lord
9. Colossians 3:22-24 - we should work with a good attitude, to please the Lord
10. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - work with your own hands
11. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 - Paul continued to work day and night, even on his missionary journeys, so as not to be a burden to the people he was with
12. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - those who don't work should not eat

Why is it our pleasure to work? Because God created humanity with the purpose of working, of tending the land. To labor with our hands is a way to fear (reverence) God, and those who do so will enjoy the fruits of their labor. 

Whatever work we do, we should do it with a thankful heart and a good attitude, because in the end we are serving the Lord and not just man. 

We ought to work so that we are not dependent on others and so that we may be able to help others. Even Paul, a great and renowned missionary, worked on his journeys to set an example and not be a burden to the people he was there to help. 

Ruth is another excellent example; she asked to be able to work and provide food for Naomi and herself, and worked in the fields from morning till night. 

Refusing to work will simply cause our desires to destroy us; hard work produces more profit than empty talk. Righteous labor leads to a good and happy life.