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“A Woman that Feareth the Lord”
Introduction: I do not know where I read this statement, but it speaks volumes: "The home is the man’s KINGDOM, the woman’s WORLD and the child’s PARADISE. The husband is the HEAD of the home; the woman is the HEART of the home, and the children are the HAPPINESS of the home." Let me repeat that last sentence, “The husband is the HEAD of the home; the woman is the HEART of the home, and the children are the HAPPINESS of the home."
The husband is the HEAD of the home. In the home, the man is to be the leader and the spiritual High Priest. He is to be the provider and the protector of the home. For a man, this is an awesome responsibility. As we read in I Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the women is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
The children are the HAPPINESS of the home. If the watch word for the father and husband is LEADERSHIP, then the watch word for the children is OBEDIENCE. The only right children have in the home is OBEDIENCE.
In Ephesians 6:1-2, we read, "Children, OBEY your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother…"
In Colossians 3:20, we read, "Children, OBEY your parents IN ALL THINGS for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."
Since the man is the head of the home, and the children are the happiness of the home, then:
The woman is the HEART of the home.This being Mother’s Day 2009, I would like this message to speak to the HEART of the home.
In Proverbs 12:4 we read, "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."
In Proverbs 14:1 we read, "Every wise woman buildeth her house…"
Every Christian woman, whether she is single looking to be married, a widow having fulfilled her role, a wife, a mother or grandmother, must ask herself: "What is God’s purpose for my life, and how can I fulfill it?" Please do not miss this statement, "No one is ever happy until they fulfill their purpose for existence." Let me repeat, "No one is ever happy until they fulfill their purpose for existence."
The Christian’s ultimate goal in life is not to be happy, but to glorify God. Real fulfillment is NOT the result of DOING WHAT WE WANT TO DO. Rather, real fulfillment comes from KNOWING and DOING the will of God. This statement came from a Christian woman, "The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of a woman. For I have accepted God’s idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be."
In Proverbs 31, we have a tremendous picture of a very, very godly woman. King Lemuel in verse 1 mentions his mother.
In verses 1-9, she apparently talked to him by PRECEPT.
In verses 10-31, she apparently taught him by PRACTICE.
This message will focus on Proverbs 31:10-31, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. (11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. (13) She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. (14) She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. (15) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. (16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. (17) She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. (18) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. (19) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. (20) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. (21) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. (22) She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. (23) Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. (24) She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. (25) Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. (26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (27) She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. (28) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. (29) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. (30) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth 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.”
Interestingly, beginning in verse 10, this passage is written in what is called a Hebrew acrostic. Psalm 119 is another Hebrew acrostic. Here verse 10 begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet; verse 11 is the second letter and so on, through the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. In other words, this lady described in these 22 verses is a complete woman from A to Z. Now for this message, I want us to look at EIGHT qualitiesof “A Woman that Feareth the Lord” The qualities will be easy to remember, since each begins with the letter "P."
First: Her PRINCIPLE is found in verse 10.“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”The word "VIRTUOUS" in the Hebrew means "moral purity and moral strength." It refers to a woman of strong PRINCIPLE or strong CHARACTER.
Notice her price is "far above rubies." meaning she is a valuable asset to her husband. Over in Proverbs 12:4 we read, "’A virtuous women is a crown to her husband…" The Book of Proverbs praises the supreme value of an excellent wife as a priceless gem. "Who can find a woman of strong Christian character for when you have found her, you have found a priceless gem."
Second: Her PARTNERSHIP is found in verses 11-12, and 23.
Notice in verse 11, “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” Here we see her prudence. The word "trust" means "confidence." Her husband is confident that he can trust his partner with the checkbook, without any fear that she is going to waste their fortunes or squander their salaries.
He has confidence his wife will do right by their resources.
He has confidence his wife will not buy that which is not needed because she has to have the "latest __________."
Simply put, he does not feel threatened by her as the keeper of the household treasury.
Notice in verse 12,“She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” This verse refers to a woman looking after the welfare of her husband. Remember the marriage vows of the wife, "Wilt thou love him, honor him and obey him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thou only unto him as long as you both shall live?" Let me ask you ladies a rather thought provoking question.
Are you indispensable to your husband, or could he get along just as well without you? Is your home a castle made fit for a king or a prison house for him?
Notice please the "’ALL" in verse 12, “all the days of her life.” She will do him good ALWAYS or in ALL WAYS. She never considers divorce as a way to harm him. She never hassles her husband by adding to the many burdens he carries.
The godly woman will stay with her husband and care for him through the GOOD TIMES and the BAD TIMES.
The godly woman will stay with her husband and care for him through the UP times and the DOWN times in life.
She is a devoted help meet for his good, a ‘responder’ to his love, one who lives for his fulfillment. That means, I believe, she will not NAG him either. Ladies, the word is spelled N-A-G. You know the questions well.
When are you going to cut the grass?
Are you ever going to take out the garbage?
When are you going to take care of the list of things I gave you to do?
Hey, why are your socks and clothes on the floor again?
You know you should eat ________, why don’t you eat more healthy food?
Oh, sweetheart, did you think to have your devotions today?
I do not know a man anywhere who can stand a nagging woman. The wisest man alive said:
In Proverbs 19:13, "…the contentions (nagging) of a wife are a continual dropping."
In Proverbs 21:9, "It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling (nagging) woman in a wide house."
The story is told of one fellow who joined the army to get away from a nagging wife. He went to war. She would write nagging letters 12-13 at a time. Finally he wrote back and said, "Darling, I love you, I love you, I love you. But please don’t write me anymore, I want to fight this war in peace!"
Notice in verse 23, “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” Since her husband is well known, she looks to the welfare of her husband’s job. She stands behind him, builds up his reputation.
In Proverbs 12:4 we read, "A virtuous women is a crown to her husband…" She completes him.
In Genesis 2:18 we read, "And the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet fit for him." Eve became an "help meet" to Adam. The word "help meet" means "completer." The only way a man will ever be completed is by a woman.
A man may think he is the "Big Cheese," the "Big Kahunna," the "Macho Man." But it takes a real man to recognize that he is not complete unless a woman becomes his completer. I know that does not help a man’s ego or pride, but none the less it is true. Ladies:
God did not send you here to be a COMPETITOR to your husband. He sent you tobe a COMPLETER to your husband.
God didn’t send you here to be HELPED. God sent you to be a HELPER.
Remember the statement we made at the beginning of the message, "No one is ever happy until they fulfill their purpose for existence." Perhaps you remember that before marriage it was "Run George, Run!" But after marriage it has become "Buy, George, Buy!” or “Come, George, Come!” There’s something very wrong with this picture. Ladies, it should still be you hollering "Run George, Run!" That is why God made you.
You are to complete him in his work.
You are to complete him in his play.
You are to complete him in his person.
There is nothing in the world that masculinity hates worse than to fail. A real man would rather die than fail. Ladies, it is your job to see that he does not fail.
There ought to be a place where every man can go where he is a hero.
There should be some place he can go, a refuge, where he can feel that he’s really somebody.
Ladies, learn his pressures, help to lighten his load, learn his desires, learn his goals, encourage him, admire him, and build him up when he is down.
I know some of you are saying, "Preacher this is supposed to be Mother’s Day. It sounds like you are preaching to build up the male ego." OK, before you go home and beat your poor man over the head, and have me as your Mother’s Day burnt offering, ask yourself, "Am I completing my husband?" For when you do, you are fulfilling the purpose of your existence.
Third: Her PRODUCTIVITY found in verses 13-14 tell us the virtuous woman is a very diligent person, not afraid of work.
In verse 13 we have her positive attitude, “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.” She does the household chores with a willing and glad spirit. She follows the principle found in Ecclesiastics 9:10, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
In verse 14 we have her proud provisions, “She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.” She is interested in the well being of her family.
Fourth: Her PREPARATION. This woman is an early riser. She rises early to get things done. She is a good planner and organizer. For in verse 15 we read, “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.”
Notice she “giveth meat (food) to her household.” It is apparent she knows how to fix healthy, appetizing meals. She knows how to cook. She is not like the young couple, as the story goes, where the bride cooked her first meal for her husband. Apon placing the dishes on the table in front of him, she smiled and said, "Dear, there are two things Mother taught me to cook well, beef stew and lemon pie." The husband looking somewhat bewildered said, "Honey, this is great, but which one is which?"
Notice she also gives to her maidens. These would be the servants who helped her with her work, such as a housekeeper or daycare provider. These servants today might also be the "vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, washer and dryer, refrigerator, microwave oven and any other conveniences available to lighten the load."
The bottom line indicates that she is the household manager who is concerned for her family’s health and welfare as much as she is for her own.
Fifth: Her PRACTICE. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the virtuous woman is her business savvy. We read in verses 16-19, “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. (17) She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. (18) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. (19) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.” This is one enterprising woman, always on the go.
She has no time to Yak, Yak, and Yak on the telephone about the latest gossip to spread the latest unkind or unfounded news.
She does not have time to sit before the TV and watch the afternoon soap operas that do nothing but pollute her mind.
In verses 16,18,19 she engages in business ventures. She has a talent for finding a good buy and making a profit. Now this is not to say a woman has to have a job outside the home. The Bible clearly teaches that the home, the husband and the children are the wife and mother’s FIRST priority.
In Titus 2:5 we are told women are to be "keepers at home."
In I Timothy 5:14 we read the women are to "guide the home."
A wife and mother’s first priority is to work INSIDE the home and not OUTSIDE the home. You may ask where in Scripture it is found that a wife’s priority is INSIDE the home. Holding your place in Proverbs 31, turn to Titus 2 in which we find the older women are to teach the younger women how to be mothers, wives and homemakers. In verses 3-5 we read, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; (4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” This passage teaches that wives and mothers are:
To care for and love their husbands,
To care for and love their children,
To be diligent home-makers, “keepers at home.”
Now listen carefully, "IF THE YOUNGER WOMEN ARE NOT STAYING HOME AND LEARNING FROM THE OLDER WOMEN, THEN THE NEXT GENERATION WILL NOT HAVE ANY OLDER WOMEN WHO HAVE ANYTHING TO TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION OF DAUGHTERS.” Remember that women are responsible for passing a legacy on to the next generation. Now, let’s go back in Proverbs 31.
In verse 17 we read, “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” She keeps herself physically fit. She obviously eats right and gets plenty of exercise.
Sixth: Her PRIORITY is found in verses 20-24. Here we have four very interesting characteristics concerning this woman’s priorities.
In verse 20 we have her PHILANTHROPY, “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” She is extremely busy meeting the needs of her family, yet she does not neglect the needs of others. She has a heart of compassion toward both the poor and the afflicted.
In verse 21 we have her PRECAUTION, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” The word "scarlet" has reference to wool that is double woven and very warm. Before the cold weather comes, she has planned ahead to provide warm winter clothing for her family.
In verse 22 we have a word about her PERSONAL APPEARANCE, “She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.” She is interested in how she looks. Her appearance before others will be a reflection on her husband as well as herself. By the way she dresses, she will not only honor or dishonor her husband, but also honor or dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ.
I know some ladies are saying, “Pastor, I dress the way I want to dress, and it does not matter what my husband thinks.” Actually, it does matter. You should not dress to call attention to your physical body, like so many of our fashions today. Rather, you ought to dress so as to call attention to the beauty of your hair and face. How you look and how you dress will either honor your husband or disgrace your husband. Think about this, “Would Jesus, whom you also represent, be pleased with the way you dress and how you look?”
In verse 24 we have a word about her PROFITS, “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” From this verse it appears she is in the clothing business, beside all her other responsibilities.
Again would you notice the order of this woman’s priorities? First, she meets the needs of her family. Second, she takes care of the needs of others. Third, she takes care of her needs last.
Seventh: Her PERSONALITY is found in verses 25-27. These three verses convey three interesting aspects of this virtuous woman’s personality.
In verse 25 we have her POISE, “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”The word "Honor" means dignity. She has a clean spirit and a clean conscience before God and her family. She can smile at the future because she knows her husband and family are taken care of adequately.
In verse 26 we have her QUIET AND MEEK SPIRIT, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” I Peter 3:3-4 speaks of the inner qualities of a woman of God, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” This woman’s inner beauty is seen in her kind words not in yelling or lashing out with unkind crude words or demeanor.
In verse 27 we have her WISE PLANNING, “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” She is a home administrator. She sets the schedule by planning the meals, the chores and the cleaning. She delegates responsibilities to the family members and teaches the children how to work.
Eighth: Her PRAISE is seen in verses 28-31, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. (29) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. (30) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth 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.” Notice her greatest praise is not what the pastor says about her, or what the people at work say about her. Rather the greatest praise comes from those who know her best, HER HUSBAND AND HER CHILDREN. When your children and your husband rise up and call you blessed, you are blessed indeed!
It is interesting that the book of Proverbs ends just as it begins, with reference to the fear of the Lord. In Proverbs 1:7 we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Notice again verse 30, "… BUT A WOMAN WHO FEARETH THE LORD, she shall be praised."
Listen to this priceless letter written to a mother. Dear Mom: As I walk through my museum of memories,
I owe you…for your time, day and night.
I owe you…for your example, consistent and dependable.
I owe you…for your support, stimulating and challenging.
I owe you…for your humor, sparkly and quick.
I owe you…for your counsel, wise and quiet.
I owe you…for your humility, genuine and gracious.
I owe you…for your hospitality, smiling and warm.
I owe you…for your insight, keen and honest.
I owe you…for your flexibility, patient and joyful.
I owe you…for your faith, solid and sure.
I owe you…for your hope, ceaseless and indestructible.
I owe you…for your love, devoted and deep.
Let me say to each mother here on this Mother’s Day 2009, "Stay at it, dear lady. Never doubt the value of your calling. Without your positive supportive partnership, the family simply could not survive.”
The greatest thing that could be said about your home is that it is a Christian home. Do you know you are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that you are on your way to heaven? If you are unsaved, come to Jesus now, and He will save you. Life is fruitless and empty and vain without the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever you are, I appeal to you in the name of Jesus to come to him. He died for you to save your soul from Hell and to make you fit for heaven. He will this moment, as you ask Him to save you, not only make you fit for heaven, but also give you a new life to live for Him.
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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon, “A Woman that Feareth the Lord” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Fill out the information below and e-mail me, pdmikBBM@aol.com. I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
Date: _________________ Name: __________________, Address: _______________
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