The Winning Life: Proverbs for Moms                                      Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 31:10                                                                     Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012

TEXT  ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

Today we reach the end of our Proverbs study.  I hope it has been beneficial to you.  I hope we have saved the best for last!  I want to speak today from Proverbs 31.  We often hear messages on this chapter encouraging the ladies of the church to be the ideal wife, the ideal mother, the ideal woman.  Talk about guilt!  I do not want to pile guilt and expectation on you today.  I believe most of you are already the Proverbs 31 woman!  You see, this chapter is not a lesson to moms, it is a lesson from mom!

THE PRIMARY MESSAGE

¹The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

We are not certain who Lemuel is.  It is rumored that this was Bathsheba’s name for Solomon, but there is no proof.  Lemuel means: “belonging to God”.  In that sense, it applies to each and every one of us.

Psalms 24:1(NKJV)

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

These are instructions from a Mom to her son.  These are more than just suggestions.  The word ‘utterance’ is the same Hebrew word translated “prophecy” or “burden”.  She is prophesying to her son.  She is giving him a word from the Lord.  Do we do that?

Proverbs 1:8(NKJV)

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;  

Proverbs 6:20(NKJV)

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.

The word “taught” means to “chasten”, “discipline”, “instruct”, and “admonish”.

Dad gives instructions and commands, but mama lays down the law!

Lemuel is remembering what Mom said.  Do you remember the things your mom taught you when she laid down the law?  What are some?

² What, my son? and what, son of my womb? and what, son of my vows?

She is responding to a question from her son.  What are you asking?  It is almost as if we are eavesdropping on a private conversation.  She refers to him in terms of affection: son of my womb, son of my vows (marriage vows).

This is her natural-born son that came as the fruit of a marriage, an example of what God has in mind all along: one man and one woman for a lifetime, children coming from that natural relationship!  There is not an example of any other type of marriage in the Scriptures.  There are foster relationships (Samuel and Eli), adoption, (David and Mephibosheth), extended family (Timothy and his mother and grandmother), and single parents (Mary).  All of these are honorable and Biblical.  Other relationships that society today wants to call ‘marriage’ have no scriptural foundation.

First mom speaks to her son about how to be successful in the home and in the marketplace.  She addresses her son as a king, a ruler.  Men, if we want to rule and reign in life, we should listen to this mother’s three wise commands. 

Lesson #1: Live a moral life. 

³ Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

One only has to read Proverbs chapters 5-7 to see the impact that immorality has on a life and on a marriage.  Husbands, if you want the perfect life then make her secure in your faithful love, not that you love her, but that you love her only!

If a man will be unfaithful to his wedding vows he will be unfaithful to his business and other personal commitments.  What we really are is what we are in secret!

Lesson #2: Live a disciplined life

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; ⁵ lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted.  ⁶ Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart.  ⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

We can plug in any vice we choose in the place of drink.  Proverbs declares that gluttony and the drunkard are brothers; laziness will clothe a man with rags.

The issue is not what you may do, but what you should do!  We should live way beyond the sin issue.  Kids want to know how close they can get to the line before they sin.  Why risk it?  Live above the live!  Live a life that is beyond reproach.  Not out of legalism to be pleasing to God, but as a king who wants to rule and reign in god’s realm with honor and dignity and clearmindedness!

Lesson #3: Live to make a difference. 

Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves

⁸ Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Amos 5:24(NKJV)

²⁴ But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

James 1:27(NKJV)

²⁷Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Mama then says, “Son, when you do these three things, you might be ready to find a wife.

THE PRICELESS WOMAN

I have found in almost 40 years of ministry that if a man will love his wife, cherish her, honor her, and nourish her, she will be a submissive wife.  Most of the women I know and have known want to submit to their husbands, but the men don’t have a clue!

1 Peter 3:1-9(NKJV)

¹Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ²when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

⁷Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ^£courteous; ⁹not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Mama begins a beautiful poem about what the king’s wife is like.  How did she know?  She was one!  This poem in Hebrew is an acrostic.  Each of the 22 verses in this section begins with a successive letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.

¹² She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

¹³ She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,she brings her food from afar.

¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.

¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.

²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.

²² She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants.

²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.”

³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Guys, we need to give our wives liberty to be who God created them to be.  They are industrious, creative, wise, resourceful, strong, buff, and beautiful.  When we exalt them, we are exalted!

1 Corinthians 11:7(NKJV)

⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

When we take care of the ladies in our life, it makes others think good of us!

One more thing…

THE PRECIOUS BRIDE

In that last verse we saw that man is the image and glory of God!  As the Bride of Christ, we can read these verses and apply them to all of us.  Look at them again in this context… 

How did we do?  Use this as a measuring rod of your devotion to Christ!

Matthew 5:16(NKJV)

¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 15:8(NKJV)

⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.