The problem of humanity is that which we want, we don’t know how to obtain it; and we don’t know what it takes to get what we want, and when we find out what it takes, we don’t want what it takes. We want victory without the distance. We want the strength without the discipline. We want the win without the race. We want the crown without the cost.
WHAT DO WOMEN WANT??? Women like to be praised. Yet today they are often repulsed and repelled by that which is praiseworthy. It amazes me how some women today will revel in not being able to cook, clean, or boast about not submitting to her husband, yet a woman wants to be praised as a mother and a wife.
Ironically, it seems that a woman virtually cannot live without a man and/or a woman who cannot have children often feels incomplete as a woman. This is not a negative thing as feminism has tried to frame it; rather, it is by design. A woman was created to be a wife and a mother; she is designed to be a wife and a mother. Therefore her greatest reward is found in being a submissive wife and a consummate mother. Whatever psychology you hold about the functionality of life that is acceptable, logical, rational, and in concert with the world is contrary to God. Only functioning as you've been created and designed to function will bring you the greatest fulfillment and satisfaction. The praise a woman desires is wrapped up in the packaging of wifeliness and motherhood.
First, the virtuous woman is praised by her matured children. That is, they have now become adults and what she has helped them to become: disciplined, prudent, honorable, ethical, and skilled, speaks well of her as a mother. The proverbist writes, "...he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him ...and she that bare thee shall rejoice." (Prov 23:24 & 25.) This is the reward of all of the long hard years of diligence and a wonderful fulfillment that can only be experience when it is done.
Secondly, she is praised by her husband. While this no doubt is inclusive direct tribute expressed by her husband, its primary meaning refers to her contribution to his life: his name, his home, his accomplishments would all be impossible without her. Yet she does not rave or boast in this fact, but she simply knows her contribution and rejoices in the fruit of her labor with a quiet spirit and the existential reward of fulfillment.
Thirdly, she is praised by other women. Another important area of reward is found amongst her peers. Just as men find tremendous nobility in excelling among other men, so does women find honor in excelling among women. “Excelling” is a term that indicates not vain-glory, but the ability to provide leadership to other women. Rest assured there is no virtue that does not result in mentoring others.
Fourthly, she is praised because she fears the LORD. Her virtuous life is a result of knowing her created purpose and how she has been fashioned by God to carry it out. She is a continue worshipper, not a fanatical cultural Christian, full of popular religious rhetoric, but frequently and subtly speaking of God as her guide, strength, and her master. This is what gets her through everyday and gets her to the wonderful rewards of life.
Fifthly and finally she is praised by her own works in the gates. It is one thing for your family to speak well of you or your peers to speak well of you; however, the virtuous woman is praised by the chief authorities of the community. Not because she has sought such, but because she sought to please God by submitting to and honoring her husband, diligently rearing her children, and teaching other women her ways. Thus her “homework” has ascended as a sweet smelling savor and rendered her praiseworthy, winning her the praise of all.
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
THE VIRTUEOUS WOMAN Pt III - Her Value (Prov. 31:23-27)
A person will never maintain what they do not value. It’s funny how many women today try to front like they cook, clean, and comb hair, while trying to get a man, but they don’t seem to understand what it took to get his attention is what it takes to keep his attention. Yet women often value being praise but they don’t value praise worthy stuff. This woman was not only taught what to be, she was taught what to do; this woman was not only taught what to do, she was taught what was important. We’ve looked at her virtues: valuable, trustworthy, helpful, industrious, resourceful, and nurturing; we’ve looked at her vigilance: prudent, reserved, thorough, productive, charitable, protective, and elegant. Her vigilance flows from her virtues, and her virtue flows from her values. This woman valued what God says is valuable: Her husband’s adornment (v23), tasteful (v24), progressive (v25), discrete (v26), and a homemaker (v27.) Her values are a means of help to her husband.
Supportive: If the husband is nobody and nothing then the wife is nobody and nothing; because, he wares her as his adornment everywhere he goes. If he is nobody to you (respectable), then he will be nobody to others. If he is nobody to you, he will be nobody to your children. The indication in the passage is that her husband is known at the gate or as a community authority, because of her contribution to his life. Whatever a man may be, his wife aught to make him all the more improved in it.
Tasteful: She likes nice things. Not merely self-adornments, but her taste is wholesome (home, husband, and kids.) Every man longs to say when others come to his home and experiences its beautiful sights and sounds, its wonderful aromas and taste, and its touch and feel, my wife does this. The home is the outward symbol of what a woman does inwardly for her husband. If the home is a mess and a wreck, it exposes the fact that she has little help for him if any.
Progressive: The old saying goes, behind every good man is a woman telling him what to do. It is often the woman that truly keeps a man moving forward, reminding a man of what he said and what he is supposed to be doing to accomplish his vision. She wants to get there as much, if not more than he does; because, she is a benefactor of his blessings promised by God in his vision.
Discrete: A woman makes her home, her family, with her mouth, the way she carries herself, and how she interacts with others. Most of the time nobody knows what’s going on in the four walls of your home until the wife is telling it. Yet this woman is careful not to kill the character of her husband nor her home with words.
Homemaker: Women are naturally concerned about what people think, yet today’s woman doesn’t seem to understand that her family is her true beautification. She should not be primarily known for her career but her home. Who her family is and how they look, and how she cares for her husband and children tells it all.
Supportive: If the husband is nobody and nothing then the wife is nobody and nothing; because, he wares her as his adornment everywhere he goes. If he is nobody to you (respectable), then he will be nobody to others. If he is nobody to you, he will be nobody to your children. The indication in the passage is that her husband is known at the gate or as a community authority, because of her contribution to his life. Whatever a man may be, his wife aught to make him all the more improved in it.
Tasteful: She likes nice things. Not merely self-adornments, but her taste is wholesome (home, husband, and kids.) Every man longs to say when others come to his home and experiences its beautiful sights and sounds, its wonderful aromas and taste, and its touch and feel, my wife does this. The home is the outward symbol of what a woman does inwardly for her husband. If the home is a mess and a wreck, it exposes the fact that she has little help for him if any.
Progressive: The old saying goes, behind every good man is a woman telling him what to do. It is often the woman that truly keeps a man moving forward, reminding a man of what he said and what he is supposed to be doing to accomplish his vision. She wants to get there as much, if not more than he does; because, she is a benefactor of his blessings promised by God in his vision.
Discrete: A woman makes her home, her family, with her mouth, the way she carries herself, and how she interacts with others. Most of the time nobody knows what’s going on in the four walls of your home until the wife is telling it. Yet this woman is careful not to kill the character of her husband nor her home with words.
Homemaker: Women are naturally concerned about what people think, yet today’s woman doesn’t seem to understand that her family is her true beautification. She should not be primarily known for her career but her home. Who her family is and how they look, and how she cares for her husband and children tells it all.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN - Part 1: Her Virtue
Proverb 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
In a time where women are taking their queue from the world and that in stark opposition to God’s word, Christians need to proclaim His truths clearer, louder, and more frequently. A true woman is what God’s says she is and nothing more or less. She is the helper to her husband, a compliment to his life, and his most valuable possession. This has less to do with who her husband is, than it has to do with what God made her to be. This kind of woman is no accident; somebody has prepared her for a husband.
This passage has been aptly deemed by classical Christianity, “The Virtuous Woman” or “A Good Woman.” It is a proverb written by a mother to her son, describing a woman like herself as the kind of woman he should marry. Today, many women are told the opposite of what the bible affirms as true, good, and right before God. They are told that they should not have to live up to their husband’s mother’s standards; they are told that they are not their husband’s possession; they are told that they have a right to their own life, vision, and goals; they are told they have as much say-so in the direction of the family unit as does their husband. Yet how wrong and anti-biblical is such talk.
This passage, though speaking much about a type of woman is centered on a man. It is warning to a man. It is instruction to a man. It adorns a woman in beautiful character for a man. It describes a woman at optimal function that is valuable to a man. It describes a woman as having endured vigorous preparation for a man. Paul affirms this in the New Testament, "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man (1 Corinthian 11:8-9). The goodness of this woman is a product of understanding, accepting, and remaining in her God-ordained purpose. In verses 10-15 she is found having 5 traits in the eyes of her husband: 1) supremely valuable – she is his most treasured possession, 2) absolutely trustworthy – she acts in the context of his intention and pleasure, 3) extremely helpful – she makes him a better man directly and indirectly, 4) capable and skillful – she is able to produce things of value good for her family and others, 5) Resourceful and thrifty – she is frugal, not at all wasteful or destructive, and 6) Nurturing – she works to optimize the family in all areas.
In short, the virtuous woman has been prepared to be a wife to her husband, a mother to her children, and a model woman for other women.
In a time where women are taking their queue from the world and that in stark opposition to God’s word, Christians need to proclaim His truths clearer, louder, and more frequently. A true woman is what God’s says she is and nothing more or less. She is the helper to her husband, a compliment to his life, and his most valuable possession. This has less to do with who her husband is, than it has to do with what God made her to be. This kind of woman is no accident; somebody has prepared her for a husband.
This passage has been aptly deemed by classical Christianity, “The Virtuous Woman” or “A Good Woman.” It is a proverb written by a mother to her son, describing a woman like herself as the kind of woman he should marry. Today, many women are told the opposite of what the bible affirms as true, good, and right before God. They are told that they should not have to live up to their husband’s mother’s standards; they are told that they are not their husband’s possession; they are told that they have a right to their own life, vision, and goals; they are told they have as much say-so in the direction of the family unit as does their husband. Yet how wrong and anti-biblical is such talk.
This passage, though speaking much about a type of woman is centered on a man. It is warning to a man. It is instruction to a man. It adorns a woman in beautiful character for a man. It describes a woman at optimal function that is valuable to a man. It describes a woman as having endured vigorous preparation for a man. Paul affirms this in the New Testament, "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man (1 Corinthian 11:8-9). The goodness of this woman is a product of understanding, accepting, and remaining in her God-ordained purpose. In verses 10-15 she is found having 5 traits in the eyes of her husband: 1) supremely valuable – she is his most treasured possession, 2) absolutely trustworthy – she acts in the context of his intention and pleasure, 3) extremely helpful – she makes him a better man directly and indirectly, 4) capable and skillful – she is able to produce things of value good for her family and others, 5) Resourceful and thrifty – she is frugal, not at all wasteful or destructive, and 6) Nurturing – she works to optimize the family in all areas.
In short, the virtuous woman has been prepared to be a wife to her husband, a mother to her children, and a model woman for other women.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
