Here Are My Thoughts

READ: Proverbs 31

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:25-26)

Pretty straightforward thoughts today. Proverbs 31 is one of the most popular Proverbs, because of its description of “a woman who fears the Lord”. The verses I’ve shared above are some of the most quoted from this portion of Scripture. It’s an insightful passage, and shows us that God created and empowered women to be wise, strong, hard-working, shrewd, and full of integrity and leadership. Obviously, these things should apply to both genders, but it’s interesting that Proverbs creates this list specifically describing women.

So I have two quick questions to challenge you with today, one for each gender:

Women: Are you aspiring to the characteristics described in Proverbs 31? Are you acting in wisdom? Are you taking initiative? Are you strong and hard-working? Are you caring for your family? Most of all, are you living in relationship with God? I challenge you to ask yourself that question today.

Men: Are you helping to create a world where women are free to aspire to these characteristics? It’s no secret that one of the things our world is heavily dividing over is gender roles and advantages. Regardless of your political beliefs, there is no debate that our world has oppressed women by withholding opportunities from them. This has happened in the political and social realm, in business, and yes, within the church. So I want to challenge us as men to constantly be empowering of the women we know. How are you helping your wives, daughters, friends, and coworkers pursue these qualities, as you pursue these qualities? Help remove any roadblocks that would create unnecessary challenges to them being the strong and wise women they were created to be. I challenge you to ask yourself that question today.

The Kingdom of Heaven, and our world as a whole, are better places when we all lay aside our differences and partner together to make a difference. When we aspire to the characteristics in Proverbs 31, and work to make sure that no one is prevented from acting in those characteristics, we get better, and everything around us gets better.

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I hope that you have enjoyed this series through the book of Proverbs. Thank you for reading along. I encourage you to remember and set into your life the lessons of this wonderful Scripture. Seek wisdom by seeking God first. Be mindful of who you surround yourself with. Watch your choices and interactions carefully. There are so many nuggets of wisdom to take from this book. I hope that, for studying it, we are all wiser.

I would also encourage you to think about making this a monthly habit. Our habits determine the quality and direction of our lives, and reading through Proverbs has been something I’ve tried to keep doing every month for several years now. It helps to center me, give me much-need reminders, and it makes sure I get in the Word daily.

Remember-wisdom cries aloud in the streets. It is readily available, waiting for you to take hold of it. So do it. Embrace it, use it to serve your life and your relationships. Wisdom is a tool that God gives us freely to help us follow Him fully and maximize this life. Ask for it and take hold of it.

-Brett