Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #16 - Honorable

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

"Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." v. 25

A godly woman is honorable.

Webster's Dictionary - honor: a good name or public esteem; one who's worth brings respect or fame

Webster's Dictionary - honorable: deserving of respect or high regard;
consistent with a reputation that is not tarnished or sullied;
characterized by integrity; guided by a keen sense of duty and ethical conduct 
 
Strong's Concordance - honor: ornament, splendor, glory, majesty

Strong's Concordance - honorable: of good standing, respectable,
bearing one's self becomingly in speech or behavior


The idea of being honorable includes many different facets, in my view. First, from verse 22, we see that her clothing is made of silk and purple, a precious color. No matter how humble she is (remember from last week, she's making her own bed linens), she still clothes herself as befits the wife of an elder. She doesn't dress in rags and act like a beggar; no, she dresses and acts in a way that will bring respect to herself and her husband. 

She also figuratively wears honor. She is known for integrity and is worthy of high regard. Her integrity and good conduct are so much a part of her that they are like the very clothes she puts on day in and day out and are present in every part of her life. 

1. Genesis 39:7-12 - Joseph had integrity in refusing the temptation of his master's wife
2. Psalm 7:8 - God judges our integrity
3. Psalm 25:21 - let integrity preserve you as you wait on the Lord
4. Psalm 41:12 - the Lord will uphold you in integrity
5. Proverbs 11:3 - integrity will guide you
6. Proverbs 11:16 - though violence may gain you riches, graciousness will gain you respect
7. Proverbs 19:1 - it is better to have integrity and be poor, than to be crooked and a fool
8. Proverbs 20:7 - a just man walks in integrity and causes his children to be blessed
9. Matthew 6:1 - do not do good deeds just to be seen by men
10. Matthew 23:27-28 - our integrity needs to come from our heart and not just be on the surface  
11. Ephesians 4:1-3 - walk in a way worthy of the Lord's calling
12. Ephesians 4:21-24 - put off your old mode of conduct and put on the new one which is patterned after God in righteousness and holiness  
13. Philippians 1:9-11 - be sincere and pure, filled with the fruit of righteousness to the glory of God
14. Philippians 1:27 - let you conversation be becoming to the gospel
15. Philippians 4:8 - consider good, honorable, upright things and weigh out how you are practicing them in your own life
16. Colossians 1:9-10 - we can walk worthy of the Lord through a knowledge of His will and spiritual wisdom
17. 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Paul behaved justly in Thessalonica, and wants them to walk worthy of the Lord as well
18. Titus 2:3 - older women should behave in a way becoming to holiness and teach the younger women to do so as well
19. Titus 2:7-8 - show a pattern of good works and sincerity in your life
20. 1 Peter 1:13-16 - be holy in all of your conduct as Jesus Christ is holy 
21. 1 Peter 2:12 - let you conduct be honest so that even those who speak against you may see your good works and glorify God 

As the children of a holy and righteous God, we are called to a high standard of conduct. Jesus Christ is our example and goal of holiness; that is an incredibly high calling, and we need to walk in a way worthy of that. 

It is so important for us to walk in a worthy manner, because that is the greatest example of Christ. It also is our greatest witness to others of the gospel; unfortunately, I have heard one too many times of unbelievers being turned off from faith because of the poor way a Christian in their life has behaved. Of course, we all sin and we ought not pretend to be perfect; but we should strive to act in a way becoming to the gospel, so that even those who would wish to slander us will have to acknowledge the good they see, which will bring great glory to God. 

I think a big part of being honorable is having integrity - doing the right thing even when no one is looking, or no one will know the difference. Joseph displayed immense integrity when his master's wife tempted him to join her in sexual sin, but he refused because he could not betray his master's confidence. Even though Joseph did the right thing, the situation was used against him and landed him in prison. Sometimes even in our integrity we will face trials and persecution, but it is that very integrity that will guide and preserve us as we wait for the Lord to act on our behalf. 

God sees all we do and knows our inner intentions, and He will judge our integrity. We should not do the right thing just to get attention or make ourselves look good, all the while being filled with sin and darkness and on the inside. Our integrity needs to come from a renewed heart and mind, one that is patterned after God and filled with the fruit of righteousness. 

I love how Paul talks about this in Philippians 4:8; that phrase "think on these things" is more than just to have good and excellent thoughts. Rather, it means to reckon, calculate, or make an account of. Almost as if you were going over your finances at the end of the month, making an account of everything you spent and earned, seeing what in in your bank account, and balancing your records. Take stock of and weigh out the account of the good, excellent, honorable things in your life, and see how you well you are truly walking in a righteous way. We all fall far short of the goal of Jesus Christ, but by His grace we can walk in a more worthy manner.

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