The Proverbs 31 Mystery (Part 2)

After identifying yesterday as Christ being the center of Proverbs 31, what then can He turn us into if we surrender daily our hearts, minds, and souls to Him?

He makes us trustworthy.

The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he will have no need of spoil (Proverbs 31:11). I dare say that trustworthiness is a direct result of being worth far above rubies –of being virtuous. Those who are virtuous are trustworthy. I would even say all of the other verses of Proverbs 31 are examples of this trustworthiness that results from this virtue. Humbling thought, isn’t it?

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life (v. 12).

When we turn to the Lord and let Him renew our minds, He turns conniving deceivers and lie-believers of daughters of Eve into trustworthy, virtuous, confident inheritors of the King. People begin to trust us because Jesus works in and through us, becoming blessings to those around us. [Jesus makes us] perfect in every good work to do His will, working in [us] that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:21).

There are countless applications to Proverbs 31:11-12! From being a helpmeet to a husband, to turning the world to hope in the Gospel to building up girls in their identity in Christ, our advice and leadership is trustworthy, especially when out of a quiet heart (I Peter 3:4). My French Bible version uses the words “s’assure en elle,” which means the husband finds “assurance” in his Proverbs 31 wife. Believing women bring assurance and affirm others. They choose to “speak the truth in love” (Ephe. 4:15).

He gives us a reliable work ethic.

Regardless of her position, this Proverbs 31 woman transformed by the power of God does what needs to be done. Why? Because now her work is about bringing glory to God (Col. 3:22-24), and her sure reward comes from Him. What she has been given, she is responsible for before God. It has been given to her by God to use, in His grace and strength for His Kingdom (Matt. 25:14-30). Whatever she does, single or married, she has become a manager of it before God.

She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships: she brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard (Prov. 31: 13-16).

She finds and looks for ways to take better care of what is under her responsibility. Going out of her way, she is a good steward, becomes generous, and can be trusted to make decisions that impact others. In this passage, it says the woman bought a field and made the decision about it. Clearly her husband trusted her to make that choice and gave her that freedom. This woman was trustworthy.

A Proverbs 31 woman is a dedicated hard worker, and what she doesn’t know how to do, she figures out how…and does it. She is clever, resourceful –characteristics which I think impact tremendously her generosity. She knows that if she were to give away “too much,” she could work to replace what she gave away. In some ways, she works to give away. She is of course only this way because Jesus is transforming her and giving her grace and strength as she renews her mind. Wherefore…give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you will never fall (II Pet. 1:10).

He supplies joie de vivre.

Proverbs 17-22 are very much related to verses 13-16 and seem to work hand-in-hand: She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night. She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Because Jesus is making her more and more into a trustworthy hard worker, He is also filling her more and more with a pure and true enjoyment of life, regardless of her situation. She is constantly trying to make the most of it, being filled more and more by His joy and hope. This does not mean things are always easy for her; neither does it mean she is frivolous, careless, and wasteful. No. Because she is a hard worker, she knows she can “afford” to be generous and enjoy giving; she also knows she can “pamper” her own accordingly, wisely within her means. She can truly enjoy her life, regardless of her situation, rich or poor, in sickness or in health, in abundance or in famine (see I Tim. 6:6 and Jer. 29:1-14). She can claim the following with more confidence year by year: Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:11-13).

He moves others to respect her.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she will rejoice in time to come…Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (Proverbs 31: 23-25).

Because of her behavior and view of herself in Christ, she is respected throughout the community. Respect is often extended to those who associate with her directly, such as her husband, who can’t help but be impacted by her if he isn’t respectable himself. She supports him and brings out the best of him, giving him respect. In some ways, one has to respect to be respected. Those who dislike you will be blown away by the respect you give. This concept makes me think of Proverbs 16:7: When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. A woman filled with Christ may not always be liked for her stands and God-glorifying choices and decisions, but Christ will ensure she is respected one way or another eventually. People will remember her for her Christlikeness.

He creates in her a pure heart.

According to Proverbs 31:26-27 & 29, she reflects purity in heart…because to have lasting and impacting actions and words as described in these verses, Christ will have been transforming her heart into a pure one (Matt. 15:18). Of course, this brings us back to Romans 12:1-2: it takes Jesus to transform us from the inside out when we commit to letting Him renew our minds. After studying the Beatitudes for a couple weeks, I was able to distinguish a link between Proverbs 31 and Matthew 5:8: no wonder this woman of God is called blessed in Proverbs 31:28 –because “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). That is respectable. That brings true “joie de vivre.” That encourages a strong, God-centered work ethic –because everything becomes for the glory of God. That creates a trustworthy woman. That results in a virtuous woman worth far more than rubies. Yeah!

So we want to be Proverbs 31 women? Let us dedicate ourselves to spending time at Jesus’ feet, developing our relationship with Him, engulfing every Word from Him, and letting His power transform us. We will never be the same.

The Proverbs 31 Mystery

How many of you ever felt overwhelmed when reading the famous Proverbs 31 passage on the description of a godly woman? How many of you lost confidence in your abilities and felt ashamed of your heart? How many of you just suddenly felt very sinful?

Well, let me argue that Proverbs 31:10-31 is not really about you and me.

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies…Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gates (Prov. 31: 10, 30-31).

Virtue is the true measure of a woman. A virtuous woman is priceless and timeless. Her impact lasts and reaches into eternity, and her goals and her heart live for and rest in the unseen, motivated by Christ, His love, and the pursuit of His truth and its spreading. But a woman cannot be virtuous on her own: it is impossible and goes against her very own sin nature. Romans 3:9-18 is pretty strong about this: NO ONE is righteous –not one. Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Isaiah 64:6 point that anything “good” we attempt is still flawed, imperfect, and of no eternal worth.

So where is a woman’s hope if she desires to be truly virtuous, eternally impacting the lives of others?

IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE

Jesus Christ makes her virtuous. Even the famous “Proverbs 31” passage points us directly to the heart of the Gospel: humanity’s depravity and Jesus Christ’ reconciliation and transformation of us. All Scripture points to the Gospel, even a woman’s desire for virtue and eternal impact –and even a woman’s lack of ability and accomplishment in this department.

NO ONE can find a virtuous woman apart from Christ.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

It can be easy to be overwhelmed by this “Proverbs 31 list”…because it IS impossible to be this woman without faith in Jesus Christ. But as we let Him renew our minds (Romans 12:2), we can become her. In fact, we can become more: we can become like Christ.

If the life of a “Proverbs 31 woman” could be summarized, I would say one accurate way would be that she lives for the unseen. While other people may see her work and its immediate fruit at times, her heart and its goals lie in the unseen. Rather than focusing on wordly favor and beauty so much, she pursues the Lord, and she is motivated by this relationship she has with Him. He transforms her mind so that she works with this in ambition: her true treasure is in heaven…and this is what she will be known and praised for, if not here on earth, definitely in heaven. Even when everything seems to be crumbling around her, she has hope, joy, and strength because she is focused on the unseen (II Cor. 4:8-18). While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (II Cor. 4:18).

Therefore we are always confident (II Cor. 5:6).

And this throws us right back to faith in Jesus Christ (Heb. 11:11). Matthew 6:19-34 only reinforces this: our treasure should be in heaven, and the secret to accomplishing that goal is to seek God first (v. 33). He has now become our number one priority –in everything. That is the secret to a “Proverbs 31 woman,” who really is just the sanctification work of Christ in her life as she responds to His daily call to follow and pursue Him. John Piper puts it this way: “Keep your hearts in heaven.” This is how Proverbs 31:25 can go so far to say in some translations: she laughs without fear of the future –not in carelessness but in full confidence in the Lord of her heart –and of her eternity.

No, you see: Proverbs 31:10-31 is not really about you and me. Rather, it is about Christ’s power in and through us. It’s about who we can become in His name as we let His truth fill us daily. So, gentlemen, encourage a woman to pursue Christ if you want her to be virtuous! And, ladies, let us rise to the challenge and give Jesus Christ room to work!

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité

Some of you may know that I take frequent trips to France. Every journey is different: even if I visit the same places, they always hold different observations, challenges, and perks. Yet, they usually never fail to bring a more enlightened view of the Gospel and its impact on life. Frances J. Roberts explains this phenomenon so warmly in Come Away My Beloved: “[God] deepens you in the furnace of affliction, and purifies your soul in the fires of pain.” It amazes me how He similarly also speaks too through the more mundane instances of life or even the small joys. He reveals so much when we are looking for it and letting Him speak.

Perhaps strolling through France reminded me of scenes from Les Miserables; or the movies I had been watching with family were emphasizing similar social strives. But while walking along the beach yesterday, I kept thinking about a famous historical phrase: “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.” This philosophical and political motto invigorated France so powerfully for years, decades, and maybe even a couple centuries. But why was it so captivating? Why in countless countries around the world do people strive for these words or similar mantras?

Because we were created for freedom -we were created to crave liberty, equality, and fraternity.

I love to study politics, especially as an attempt to understand their philosophical foundations, their human justifications, and their results on society. However, in this post, I am not going to dive into the contradicting thoughts and opposing factions of eighteenth century France. What I want to focus on is our innate desire to be free, to embrace equality, and to live with others as a family.

I attended a Catholic Christmas mass about a week ago or so and was stricken by how many people seemed to be there simply by tradition, hoping that somehow fulfilling this festive practice would make their year conclude better and bring about a fortunate new one. Communion was welcomed, something to be done for a blessing, a reminder of days of old, or a warmth in a dark, cold world. The partakers seemed to look towards each other with a hope for brotherhood, a yearning for unity. They were all looking for the same thing: freedom from the awfulness of year 2014 and the worry towards 2015; freedom from the burdens they were carrying; freedom for their souls full of strife, mistakes, and pain. They wanted all to be equal in this unfair world, equal, loved, and free.

Because that’s what they were created for.

Last Sunday, I visited a local evangelical church for the first time in the area. When the service concluded, I was left with joy, reminded that I had what so many across France and the entire world craved and yearned for: freedom, equality, and fraternity. My freedom comes from my salvation in Jesus Christ. Because I believe, He frees me from everything unholy and daily renews my heart, mind, and soul when I turn to Him. I stand equal before God, as any other human being does because He has created us all in His image and is ready to accept any of us into His kingdom of sons and daughters if only we believe. Finally, I can experience a beautiful family experience with all other believers. Constantly the book of Acts opens my eyes to what the Church should really be: one big united family in the truth of the Gospel.

Dear France, dear world –you can have Liberté, égalité, et fraternité. You were created for it. You were created for Jesus Christ.

Just a Typical Girl

This morning, I finished a little study on ten different women mentioned in the Bible. None of these ten had what we would consider “perfect lives.” They were all going through a typical woman’s life: child-bearing problems and fears; war; emotional abuse or suffering; widowhood and the care of bitter elderly; death of a loved one; national crisis; family threat; tough choices; tests of faith and lessons of letting go; consequences from sin or poor choices. Their imperfections and weaknesses, along with the world’s sinful impact on them, brought them to places of lowness and fear, senses of failure and abandonment, and temptations to despair and to bid farewell to dreams or their promises from God.

My dear reader, do you recognize yourself yet?

These events all sound like typical things we women still go through today. These Bible characters were clearly all typical women. They were like you and me.

Yet what made them different was their faith –faith that the Lord is Sovereign God, faith that Jesus and His plan are enough, and faith that He is faithful, Keeper of His promises. What made them different was what they believed and their resulting choices. What made them worthy was their intentional decision to believe; and what gave them their lasting legacy was taking a stand for what they believed. This is the Gospel. Nothing worthy or outstanding comes from ourselves, but everything falls together beautifully in the name of Jesus when we respond to the desire He puts in us to crave and follow Him.

Because He loved us first. 

Sarah. Deborah. Hannah. Ruth. Mary. Esther. Miriam. Rahab. Jochebed. The woman at the well. They were all typical, dream-filled girls who turned into typical women struggling and fighting for those dreams. But these typical girls discovered a radical truth and experienced the God Who held everything they could truly delight in forever: His Word, His plan, and even His nature. Simply, they could delight in Him.

So, ladies, I don’t have to tell you twice that we are not worthy and that our sandcastles are quickly washed away by the clock. You already know that. Sin and the effects of time are no strangers to you; we have all quickly become acquainted to them. 

But the hope that comes from Christmas can last the entire year once you realize that God turns typical girls into worthy dream fulfillers and conquerors of His plan upon realization that He is the true delight of our hungry hearts.

From the Blind

Pirate is a horse with only one eye. Yet, his trust towards his rider baffles me. Embracing adventures across the fields and woods, Pirate walks, trots, and canters with energy and enthusiasm. He is unafraid of the unseen but presses on with a seeming joy and carefreeness that often many other horses don’t exhibit. Oh, if only he knew what he teaches me…

I used to think that by age 23, I would have everything figured out. There is nothing more false than that childhood fantasy! In fact, it seems that my questions have only increased, my insecurities have only become more revealed, my lack of adequacy only more present, and my unknown future has turned into an understatement. But if I focus on what I do not know, I can only find discouragement and frustration. If I focus on dreams and on imagination, I will only find insignificance.

“Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”[1]

No, I cannot focus on these things I lack, the prayers answered with “wait” or “no,” the thorns never removed, or even the dreams that may or may not come to pass, and the future I think I desire. These thoughts only become little gods that displace my Sovereign Lord from His rule in my life and His work through me. I can only focus on the gifts that He has given me today, knowing that these little steps are mine to take for His Kingdom. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).

You see, you and I have it all wrong. It’s so easy to believe that this life is about us, about our castles in sands, about our dreams and goals coming to pass, about seeing fruits to our labor, and about our little worlds. Yes, God does choose to use our work –but He could still accomplish His plan without us. All He needs to do is speak, and that which He commanded comes to pass. “So shall My word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

Rather, what He desires most is for me to know Him more, for me to want Him more, and for me to glorify Him more through this growing relationship with Him. It’s not about rules and laws followed or the number of other souls I reach but about my heart truly loving Him. “For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17). Part of wanting Christ more, loving Him more, and glorifying Him more is learning to trust Him more and more, day by day –even in the dark, in the questions, in the pain, in the battles, in the struggles, in the failures, in the long hours of work. Just like Pirate, I need to embrace God’s adventures for me across the fields and woods of life, as He opens and closes the doors, one at a time, or a thousand all at once. In His strength and the confidence He gives me, I can go any speed He needs me to through the various seasons of my journey here –with energy and enthusiasm straight from His heart. I can be unafraid of the unseen and press on with true, secure joy and carefreeness…and watch Him use me to teach others about His truths.

“Eyes On You” –Shane & Shane

I don't know which way to go
But my eyes are on You
I don't know which way to turn
But my ears are to the ground
You say that I can hear Your voice
So I am listening

All I know is that I believe
It's not with my eyes that I can see
I'm a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me
There's a vision now in another eye
You've given sight to a man inside;
Of a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me

I still don't know which way to go
But my eyes are on You
I still don't know which way to turn
But my ears are to the ground
As long as You are lifted up
I don't have to understand

All I know is that I believe
It's not with my eyes that I can see
I'm a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me
There's a vision now in another eye
You've given sight to a man inside;
Of a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me

The battle is the Lord's
So I'll walk towards You in the dark
Cause I know that in the end we win
So I'm all in
Lead me I'm Yours

All I know is that I believe
It's not with my eyes that I can see
I'm a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me
There's a vision now in another eye
You've given sight to a man inside;
Of a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me

There's a vision now in another eye
You've given sight to a man inside;
Of a blind man fighting the world
Swinging back at me

---

[1] From “Be Thou My Vision”

Hopes & Fears Met in Thee Tonight

It’s that time of year –CHRISTMAS! It’s weird to think that one year has passed since the start of my blog. Looking back over the past year, it’s as if I can see how one thing led to another, stretching me in my faith and leading me towards Shiloh’s Mount. I caught a glimpse as never before about what it means to take leaps of faith; to truly only lean on the Savior; and to trust Him to fulfill what He has promised towards you.

I read a few days ago Luke 5:1-11, and while I cannot possibly compare my journey to those of the disciples’, I did recognize a pattern in their life that occurred at least a couple times in my past year. Like reading the steps to following a pattern to make a quilt square, I saw it all come together. In the Scripture passage, Jesus enters a ship and asks Simon, a fisherman on it, to throw the nets into the water again. Simon tells Jesus that there is nothing to be caught BUT that he will proceed anyways. We see here the first step:  simple obedience when it does not make any sense. 

The disciples actually catch so much fish that their net breaks and they need help from other fisherman in order to collect the fish! Simon Peter is astonished and humbled. I can definitely relate to this next step: God works and I am humbled. This has happened so much this past year: countless times I weakly followed the Lord, with so little confidence in who He is…only to be blown away by His faithfulness and His provision.

What’s amazing is the third step: Jesus looked past the sinful minds of His future disciples and stated FEAR NOT, calling them to become fishers of men. God looks past all of our sin, failures, abilities/inabilities, and insecurities and gives us a calling, something to do, to obey. And just as the fisherman responded, so should we: they finished up their current job, left everything behind, and embraced their calling: following Him. What is the last step in this quilt block? Usually finishing up our current job (unless sinful), leaving everything behind, embracing our calling, and following Him.

This is what Christmas is really about: casting aside our fears of years past and unwrapping the gift of hope that comes through following Christ alone…because that little baby we so easily sing about this time of year is the Son of God, long-expected Messiah, and the only Savior. So let the weary world rejoice!