Bible in 90, Day 46: Who can find?

Proverbs 20-Ecclesiastes 2

*image courtesy of bjearwicke at stock.xchng

About 13 years ago, I met the woman of my dreams… only I didn’t know it!  I was 16 years old, and when I first saw her I assumed she was about 25.  Beyond being older than me, she was way out of my league.  She was beautiful, smart, funny, nice, well-dressed.

Yeah, she’d never bother with me!

Well, about 6½ years later, we got married.  That was a little over 6 years ago now, and I love her more than ever.  She is the woman I always wanted, before I even knew what I wanted.  She has given me two wonderful boys, she has encouraged me through a college degree and seminary, she has nurtured my talents (even talents I didn’t know I had!), she has forgiven me, she has maintained a wonderful home, and she is largely responsible for the man I am today.

Back when we were dating, she sat down with me at a park and read Proverbs 31 to me.  I had never read Proverbs 31, and at the time it made little sense to me.  She told me that this was the kind of woman she wanted to be.  Again, I was clueless, but looking back now I see where she made a deliberate decision at that time in her life, and took the steps needed to make it happen.  She has truly become the Proverbs 31 woman.

Proverbs 31:10-31 is another acrostic.  Each line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, giving us the ideal woman from A-Z.  So what is this woman like?  She loves her husband.  She serves him (not as a slave, but in love), and does good to him.  She always has his best interest in mind.It’s interesting to note that while discussing this ideal woman, it is mentioned that her husband is an official in the town (v. 23).  Behind every good man is a good woman!

She is a hard worker.  She is industrious.  She knows how to make things, and where to get her supplies.  She takes care of her family.  She is prepared for tough times.  She is strong.  She is wise.  She is praised by her family.  And most importantly, she fears the Lord.

The obvious application here is to young women.  For you, aspire to be like this woman.  Ruth serves as an example of this kind of ideal woman, and in the Hebrew Bible, the book of Ruth follows right after Proverbs.  For the rest of us, let’s praise the noble women in our lives.  If you are married to one (like me), then be sure to praise her as she deserves.  Make sure she knows she is loved.  Rise up and bless her!  If you are living with a noble mom, you also be sure to praise her.  Don’t wait for Mother’s Day!  Honor her each day, especially in the small things like obedience and respect.  But don’t forget to voice your love and praise as well.

*originally at Words of Reason

Bible in 90, Day 46: It’s not about the benjamins baby

Proverbs 7-20

*image courtesy of mompes at stock.xchng

What could be better than money?  I’m glad you asked!  Solomon had a lot to say about money.  This is not shocking when you consider that he was the wealthiest man alive in his day.  When we get to Ecclesiastes tomorrow, we’ll see that Solomon did some experimenting with the ability of money to buy happiness.  He found out, long before the Beatles told us, “money can’t buy me love.”  I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of tragedy that seem to follow after winning the lotto.  Several verses from today’s reading show us what could be better than money:

Proverbs 15:16-17; 16:8; 16:16; 16:19; 17:1; 19:1; 19:22

We learn in these verses that, among other things, the fear of the Lord, righteousness, wisdom & understanding, humility & innocence, peace & quiet, and love are all better than money & wealth.  There is nothing wrong with working hard, saving, and being wise with the money one earns.  In fact, Proverbs is full of calls to do just that!  However, money itself can never replace the things listed above.  Working hard to provide for oneself and one’s family is commendable.  Slaving away, stealing, or being dishonest in order to just amass wealth is foolish and sinful.  Ultimately, money can’t buy the thing which are truly valuable.

Some of the leanest times in my life have been some of the happiest times, the times I’ve felt closest to my family, and certainly the times I’ve been the most thankful for everything I have.  When Proverbs 15:17 says, “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred,” I can sympathize.  I’ve sat around Thanksgiving feasts that were absolutely miserable, and I’ve sat at a table with little more than beans and bread and felt so thankful to have my wife and my two boys with me to share in it.  It is not the great food that makes the meal, it is the company of the people I love, under the God I love.

Proverbs 16:16 says that wisdom and understanding are better than gold and silver.  All the wealth in the world won’t compensate for a foolish heart.  As it’s said, “you can’t fix stupid.”  What do you get when you give a fool a lot of money? You don’t have to look far in our culture today to get your answer there.

Let’s remember that money isn’t everything.  Money is a tool, it is not a god.  Let’s make sure our money is serving us, not the other way around.  Let’s honor God with our money, and remember that there are a lot worse things that being broke!

*originally at Words of Reason