Sunday Rewind 9.24.06

Scripture Lesson: Proverbs 31:10-31.

Check the cover stories of any number of widely published women's magazines, and you'll find no shortage of advice on how to become the perfect woman. They all say basically the same thing: fix your body, build your bank account, and perform well in bed. You would think that with as long as these three steps have been promoted, that every woman would be perfect. The problem is that this is the world's advice. And the world's advice doesn't work.

But God's advice works every time it's applied. And on the surface, this week's text seems to be a checklist of things that a woman should be and do. But, even here there's a problem. The woman in this passage is a master of domestic affairs, and a master of commercial affairs, and a master of community affairs. Sound difficult? Try impossible!

So what's happening here? Is God setting impossible expectations for women that do little other than frustrate? NO! In fact, I don't believe the author is writing about humans. I believe he is writing about Lady Wisdom, and encouraging readers to "marry" her.

The "husband" of wisdom is guided in domestic affairs. The "husband" of wisdom is guided in commercial affairs. The "husband" of wisdom is guided in community affairs. The "husband" of wisdom lacks nothing of value. Therefore "he" is qualified to sit with the elders at the city gate.

So what's the lesson here. Let my synthesize it this way...

A woman of Godly wisdom is a blessing to be cherished! She is more desireable than charm or beauty. She is more valuable than money. And she deserves the praise of her children, husband and community.