September 9 - The Best Person

by Audrey Bauman

This chapter contains these famous verses about women. (But I think we can include men in these verses - men who work to support their families and communities) We'll read them, but concentrate on just three verses near the end.

Proverbs 31: 10 - 31  NLT

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
     She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
     and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
     all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
     and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
     bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
     and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
     with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
     a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
     her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
     her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
     and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
     for everyone has warm clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
     She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
     where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
     and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
     and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
     and she gives instructions with kindness.
 27 She carefully watches everything in her household
     and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
     Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
     but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
     Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

When I read that chapter, I tend to feel overwhelmed.   The wife and mother described is so busy running her family and the world around her that it takes my breath away.  I do know that mothers do not have a cozy relaxed life.  Today, most women need to have jobs outside the home, as well as taking care of their family. So we'll concentrate on the following verses:

Proverbs 31:25-26 and 30   (NLT)

“She is clothed with strength and dignity,
     and she laughs without fear of the future

When she speaks, her words are wise,
     and she gives instructions with kindness.”

 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 

Those verses got my attention because they weren’t about all the things a mother/wife should or could accomplish, but rather about her basic motivation. She is the kind of woman we would all like to be - “clothed with strength and dignity”.   We want to be a strong person that our kids and husband can depend upon.  We want to be an individual who lives wisely.  Being the anxious person I tend to be, the idea of laughing without fear of the future is definitely a goal of mine. And I’d love to be known as a wise and kind person. How do I ever hope to become someone like that?

I think one of the last verses in that chapter give me a clue.  “Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last, but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised”  

Does that idea appear anywhere else in the Bible?  Look at these verses:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do”  Psalm 111: 10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”  Proverbs 9: 10

I don’t think the word ‘fear’ means we should be terrified, although God is certainly powerful enough to strike fear into anyone.  This ‘fear’ is more of an awareness of who God is.  When we become aware of His love for us, and become aware that He cares about our everyday life, and that He wants our lives to be meaningful and part of His plan for this world … that is a tremendously calming influence in your life.   That gives you the strength to look forward to the future and to think carefully about your everyday decisions. 

On a practical daily basis, how does the fear of the Lord impact me?  I need to be intentional about spending time with God.  I need to read my Bible so I understand clearly who my Heavenly Father is. I need to pray – not necessarily in big chunks of time – but practice talking with Him about all the mundane things that make up my life.  That time with God is what will make me strong, calm, wise and kind.  And be so thankful that God is patient.  He’s waiting for me - for you -  to do just that.

Our song for today is I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin.