Thirty-one: Home Sweet Home

( This is the 9th in a 10-post series)

"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. 

Proverbs 31:19-24  (NLT)

I've had a really difficult time writing about these verses. I've read Proverbs 31:19-24 in every English language translation, many times over.  I've searched far and wide for sound commentary, but have found little apart from the writings of narrow minded fundamentalists who would keep all women at home, and 17th century theologians who obviously lack insight for women of the twenty-first century.  And I don't know about you, but I don't know a single woman who spins her own thread.  So are these verses irrelevant?  I don't think so.  Like all scripture, they are "inspired by God, and useful to teach us what is true" (2 Tim 3:16 NLT). So we need to look at the biblical principles underlying these verses, which transcend both time and culture. Here's my take:

Verse 19: Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.  She is industrious.  She is actively involved in providing for her household.  Whether she works primarily at home or the workplace, she works hard to give her family her best.

 20: She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. I don't think the placement of these verses is an accident. She provides for her family first, then looks to the needs of others. Over the years, I've seen so many women in churches get busy 'serving others', to the neglect of their own households.  First, care for those whom God has given you, then engage them in serving others, too!

21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She is preparing for "winter" before winter arrives. I don't think the meaning of this verse stops at making sure our kids have coats and mittens.  I think "winter" is symbolic of times of difficulty or hardship. When things are good, she's preparing for tough times. She's not afraid because she trusts God, and she has set aside provisions (money, clothing, food?) for a 'snowy' day, so she doesn't fear what may come. 

22 She makes her own bedspreads.  She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.  She cares about the appearance of her home and herself.  She adorns both with the very best she can afford.  I don't make my own bedspreads, but I've worked hard to create a home my family loves.  I'm not always as careful with my appearance. Most days, a purple Crossroads t-shirt and jeans is as close as I get to this verse, although I usually dress a little better when I leave the house.  Hey, I'm a work in progress :o)

23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She does all she can to help her husband succeed and gain the respect of his community.  She prays for him.  She does her part to keep the home running smoothly, whether she's a homemaker or has a career outside the home. She respects him, encourages him, and pays attention to his needs. She speaks highly of him to others. A man who is respected, loved and built up by his wife has the best possible chance for success in any field and will have the admiration of his peers.

24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She finds a way to use her skills and resources to bring income into her household, while still managing her home. You probably haven't sold any linen garments or sashes lately.  Perhaps you sell yard sale finds on eBay, or keep your kids well dressed through consigning the clothes they outgrow. Maybe you own a business and work from home. Perhaps you prepare 95% percent of your family's meals at home, saving hundreds compared to take out or convenience foods.  Whatever you do to bring income into your home, you are a doer of verse 24! 

Next time, we'll dive into the last seven verses of Proverbs 31.  Thanks for joining me on this personal journey.

Prayer for Today: Father, help me to do the very best that I can for my family with the resources You've provided.  Help me to make Your priorities my own.  In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Thirty-one: Lamplight

(This is the 8th in a 10-post series)

She sees that her profits are good,

and her lamp never goes out at night.
Proverbs 31:18  HCSB

In Proverbs 31:18, we see that the Excellent Wife paid careful attention to the fruitfulness of her labors, giving her time and resources only to worthy pursuits. And we've heard that she "burned the midnight oil", working tirelessly until very late into the night. Some translations even render the verse that way.  But I think there's much more than the obvious for us here. After studying many translations, reading lots of commentaries and praying for insight, I saw some things I never saw before in this text. Maybe you'll see something new as well.

  From all we've read in Proverbs 31, there's no question the Virtuous Wife is industrious.  So it makes sense that she would sometimes toil late into the evening to finish important tasks.  But in verse 15, we read that it was her habit to "rise while it is still night" to prepare for her day.  To me, staying up half the night and getting up before dawn seemed incongruous with the way she conducted herself, and with the instruction to rest we see in both the old and new testaments (Genesis 2:2, Jeremiah 6:16, Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4:9-10).  So I continued to study and search for insight.  In nearly a quarter-century as a Christ follower, I've found that searching His word like you're digging for hidden treasure always yields riches.

Is it possible that "her lamp never goes out" speaks not only of working late, but of preparedness at all times? Throughout scripture, oil is a type of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the five wise maidens have enough oil in their lamps to last through a long, dark night and are ready to greet the Bridegroom when He appears.  When the five foolish maidens realize they don't have enough, it's too late and they are tragically unprepared to meet Him.  I used to think how mean the wise girls were for not sharing their oil with the foolish ones.  But since oil represents the Holy Spirit, it would be impossible for one to share her supply with another.  A continual filling of  the Holy Spirit, is very much an individual pursuit, nurtured through a lifetime of prayer, obedience, fruitful living and time with God.  You cannot do that for me, nor can I do it for you.    

So I believe our virtuous woman doesn't stay up all night, every night. Her lamp is always burning; she lives ready.  From from now on, when I read verse eighteen, I'll remember her example. I won't think only of burning the midnight oil, but of keeping the oil burning...at midnight, and always.

Join me next time here at Chick Food as we dig into the next several verses of this precious proverb. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, I pray you will help me give my time and treasure to only that which is truly profitable.  Please help me to be continually filled with Your Spirit, that my lamp may always burn brightly.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen. 

Strawberry Pretzel Salad. You're welcome.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

( I guess you could tweak the ingredients and use low fat, low calorie everything...but why would you do that?? I think you should just make something else! :oD )

Crust

2 C crushed pretzels

3/4 cup melted butter

3 T sugar

Filling

1  8 oz pkg cream cheese,  softened

1 c sugar

1  8 oz Cool Whip, thawed

Topping

2  (3 oz) pkg strawberry Jello

2 c boiling water

2 (10 oz) pkg frozen strawberries (Do not use fresh strawberries! They contain an enzyme that prevents the jello from setting up.)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Mix together pretzels, butter and 3 T sugar and press into bottom of a 9X13 baking dish.  Bake 8-10 mins until set.  Cool.  Cream together sugar and cream cheese, fold in cool whip and spread mixture over cooled crust.  Dissolve jello in boiling water, stir in frozen strawberries and allow to set to egg white consistency. (Don't let strawberry mixture set too long, it will get chunky and will not pour well.) Pour and spread over cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until set.

Enjoy!! 

Thirty-one: Fields and Vineyards

(This is the 7th in a 10-post series)

"She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks."

Proverbs 31:16-17  NIV 

After reading several commentaries on Proverbs 31:16-17, I'm relieved to know I don't have to own rural real estate or take up vine dressing to apply this bit of wisdom to my life.  What speaks to me in these verses is the way this virtuous woman approaches her life. Remember we said in the first devotion in this series that the wife described in Proverbs 31 is a composite of godly qualities, not an actual woman. As I studied this passage, these were the things that leapt off the page for me.

She considers a field.  She doesn't act hastily or impulsively, but takes time to weigh her options.  She does her homework so she can make wise, informed decisions. I bet she prays for guidance, too!

...and buys it.  She's able to take action when the opportunity arises, because she has set aside resources for this investment.  She doesn't just dream of one day buying a field (or house or business or college education), she has planned and prepared for this day. She takes confident action when the time is right.

...Out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard.  When her investments yield profits, she doesn't consume them, she 'plants' (invests) them in something that will bear even more fruit.  Our economy is not nearly so agrarian as in ancient times, but I believe the principle in this verse applies to the decisions we make every day in our modern culture.  Perhaps that $50 you saved when you clipped a coupon for your son's new glasses could go into his college fund. Maybe the $200 you saved by growing your own veggies this year will enable you to give that much to church or charity. What if the $1,000 you saved by going camping instead of to Disney this year was invested in your retirement plan? The point is this: she actively applies herself to fruitful investing; not just her resources, but also her time and talents. 

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  The word "vigorous" means full of life and energy, active, strong, healthy and growing. She is not afraid of hard work. She prepares herself for the work she must do.  I believe this applies not just to physical fitness and strength, but to mental, emotional and spiritual well being, too. Do you run or work out? Great! But we don't have to be gym members or marathoners to get strong, and lead healthy lives that prepare us for our real race. 

Join me here at Chick Food tomorrow as we look at verses 18-19.

Prayer for Today: Father, help me to make wise decisions.  Help me to be intentional about using the gifts, talents and resources You have given me in fruitful ways. Help me to always remember that my true strength comes from time spent with You.  In Jesus name, Amen.