Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Noble Character-Valuable” – Saturday, 3 May 2014 - Scripture: Proverbs 31: 10-31

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Noble Character-Valuable” – Saturday, 3 May 2014 - Scripture: Proverbs 31: 10 [a]Who can find a worthy woman?
    For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.
    He shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and works eagerly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships.
    She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night,
    gives food to her household,
    and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it.
    With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength,
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor;
    yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
    for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
    Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates,
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
    She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
    Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
    and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
    Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
    but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
    Let her works praise her in the gates!
Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 31:10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order.
“Noble Character-Valuable” by Carol Rittenhouse
Proverbs 31 serves as a beautiful testimony of the diligent, quiet life. We do not know the name or identity of the woman. But she is known by her habits, her compassion, and her wisdom. She is a valuable asset to her husband and to her family.
Many see this as an ideal description of a good wife and an impossible standard for any woman to achieve. While it is true that Proverbs 31 describes a “perfect wife,” it is important to remember that Proverbs is not a biography. Looking past the specifics of each verse we see is a woman who lives out her daily life with integrity. She does what she needs to do to care for her family and others around her. She is diligent, hardworking, and resourceful. She accepts her role in the family and embraces the opportunities she has been given. This woman certainly has value because of what she does. But she also has value for who she is–one who fears God (v.30).
The way to be a woman after God’s heart has nothing to do with charm or beauty, cooking or cleaning, sewing or planting. God desires whole-hearted commitment to his Kingdom values.
Hymn for Today:
“Now Thank We All Our God” by Martin Rinkart, translated Catherine Winkworth 
1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
2. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Thought for Today:
”Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.” (Romans 12:9).
Prayer Needs:
Many young people in Chile will be called into full-time Christian ministry!
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