Proverbs 31:23-27 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 31:23-27, which read,

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.  Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.  She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

There are so many great phrases in these verses.  Let's see if we can walk through some of them in order and learn from this wisdom of the queen mum to her king son about a worthy wife.  She is projecting into the future when she gives some of these qualities about this lady.  These are qualities that are a result of one who is following after God.  

The first is that her husband holds a position of authority with good standing of a solid partner and home that is God honoring.  He has the qualifications to sit at the gates among the elders and help rule and protect the city from evil and injustice.  This is carried over into the New Testament when Paul speaks about the qualifications of an elder and much is spent on his home life as requirements for the position.

The second is her resourcefulness to contribute to the income of the family after the duties and responsibilities to her family are fulfilled.  She uses a talent that she has to make linen garments and belts which are sold to individuals and also to those who would sell them in the market.  Another way to look at this quality is that she has her home tasks in order to branch out to other interests.  She has her life ordered so that more can be accomplished because of the diligence to the home responsibilities and to her husband.

The third is a word picture to describe her character.  Strength and dignity are like clothing to her.  She wears these everyday.  You see these when you see her.  She also has a smile that projects a happiness and joy for the future and most readily the day that is ahead of her.  You know from her face that this is going to be a pleasant meeting or conversation.  

The fourth is when she opens her mouth out comes wisdom and the teaching of kindness.  The words that she gives are shaped by the words of God and they are given not just to know but to be acted upon first by her and then guidance for others.  She communicates ideas that are worthy of repeating just as this queen mum is conveying to her king son. 

The fifth is how she keeps up with the events of her home.  She has a house "calendar" per say and is on schedule with all that happens within her household.  To do this she has to keep away from the "bread of idleness."  She is a skillful manager of the home and the literal translation of "bread of idleness" is "eyes looking everywhere."  Her eyes are focused on what is before her and her mind is engaged to what needs to be attended to next.

Titus 2:4, 5 says in instructed to the older women in training the young women to...

"...so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God's word will not be slandered." 

For this to be accomplished the worthy wife can not be a slacker or sluggard as we have read in so many passages in the book of Proverbs.  The work of the home is very vital to the work of the kingdom and God's word going forth with integrity as it is being lived out in the home.  Our greatest impact is not the academic education we have received in the institutions of the day but rather the lived out wisdom in our homes to be observed by others.  It is not just something that we know but something that we do and practice on a regular basis.  

Again, this wisdom is for us all.  Our home life is very important to the witness of our salvation in Christ Jesus.  It is the "reality show" that lets others see in "real time" our acting out the principles of a changed life in Christ.  When you allow another into the four walls of your home, what will they see and experience?  Will they see what is happening on the outside?  Will they see that this is not just an act for Sunday or for Facebook posts?

To say it again, this is a picture of perfection which none of us are but we strive and live after the Perfect One, Jesus Christ.  We all fall and eat the bread of idleness but wisdom tells us to get back up and go on a fast from idleness and replace it with a diligent, self-controlled life of service to God seen first in our homes.  After a day of eating, Thanksgiving, what do you need to do today that will have an impact on those around you?  Let us pray.

"Lord, what great instruction is given to us through Your word.  How You help us to see ourselves in light of the description given of this worthy woman.  May You open our eyes to the witness that we have that is supported by our home life.  May our homes be a greater or the greatest reflection of You to others as they see us with our hair down keeping Your word.  Amen."

Pastor Adam