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Being a woman is easy; it’s decided before you are even born, and you don’t have much say in it. Being a Christian woman is work, hard work. If there is one thing that I learned doing this study of Proverbs 31, it is that the Proverbs 31 Woman is a hard worker. She is focused, poised, and reliable. It is no surprise that God holds her up as a person for other women to emulate. What we learn and the qualities we develop by taking care of our daily duties and our families should transfer over into our work for the Lord.

Be a Strong Worker

17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

• The phrase “dresses herself with strength” refers to being prepared to work for the day. She wakes up ready to achieve the things she needs to accomplish. She has energy and is ready to work.
• The second half of this verse lets us know the benefit of her labor. She has become more fit and healthy from her hard work. She is not weak and sickly. Work is helping her to stay healthy and do her part for the family.

Application Thoughts:

Am I prepared every morning for my day? Have I gotten in bed at a reasonable hour to give me the energy for my tasks? Have I spent time with the Lord so that I can be spiritually energized? Am I taking care of myself physically through exercise and healthy eating so that I become stronger, not weaker?

Many times as women we put ourselves last after taking care of everyone and everything else. While we are commanded to serve

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others, we need to be careful with this attitude. We must make sure that we are taking care of ourselves physically and spiritually so that we can take of our families and other commitments. It’s like the reminder when you fly to put on your oxygen mask first before helping someone else. If we are constantly giving without seeing to our needs, at some point we’ll run out of breath!

Be An Industrious Worker

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

• The Hebrew word for perceives in this verse is the word taam which literally means “to taste”, but is used figuratively here as perception.
• This woman can tell that her merchandise she’s producing (the linen garments of verse 24) will bring in some extra income and this pleases her.
• The fact that her lamp does not go out at night lets us know that she works even after daylight or normal working hours are over. She lights her lamp and continues being productive after others are done for the day. She finds work to do.

Application Thoughts:

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Do I look for ways to make money or save money? Am I frugal? Do I go about my day looking for ways to save money and stretch a dollar? Do I seek out work to do or do I look for excuses to get out of work?

Women need to be savvy business women even if they aren’t in the work force. We need to make sure and be wise with our money and our time. If there’s a job that needs doing, we need to do it. Procrastination is not in this woman’s vocabulary. If there’s way to cut costs, we need to do that as well.

Be a Humble Worker

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

• The distaff (peluk) and the spindle (kishor) preceded the spinning wheel which mounted both the distaff and the spindle onto a wooden frame. The distaff held the finished thread while the spindle held the fibers. You held one in your hand while the other was placed under your arm or in your lap.
• This verse is interesting because we know from verse 22 that this woman is wealthy since she owns purple clothing and fine linen, yet here we see her participating in at least part of the manual labor for her cloth-making business. She does not view herself as being too high above her employees and servants that she is not willing to work with them.

Application Thoughts:

Do I view some jobs in the church as “beneath” me? Do I view certain people in society as ones I do not want to associate with? Am I leading my family in service by example?

The Lord told his disciples that the first will be last, and the last first (Matthew 19:30). We need to remember that as we volunteer in our homes and our churches. Do what needs to be done; not what makes you happy or is always in your comfort zone.

Be A Compassionate Worker

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20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

• Two different Hebrew words are used here for “hand” and “hands”. The first word translated “hand” is caph. It is specifically talking about the palm of a closed hand. Implying that when she opens her caph, she is holding money there and giving it to the poor.
• The second word translated “hands” is yad. This word indicates power and direction of the hand and almost always refers to an open palm. In other words, now that this woman has given money, she reaches out her hand again with an open palm to give a comforting touch.

Application Thoughts: Do we remember to give what we have to those who are poor and needy?  Do we only think of giving in terms of money? When we give, do we also remember to give affection and love to those in need?

A perfect example of this type of woman is Dorcas in Acts 9:35-41. Even though she was a widow and most likely in poor circumstances herself, she used her talent of sewing to make clothing for other widows in need.  Based on what the Bible tells us of the grief of these women who had received her garments, Dorcas ministered to their spirits as well.

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

• Palestine does get snow every couple of years, but it usually melts quickly and they don’t have a lot. The implication in this verse, though, is that it’s cold.
• The fact that she is not afraid that winter is coming is because she has prepared. She is ready for whatever lies ahead.

Application Thoughts: Do I have myself and my family prepared for what lies ahead? Are my children or grandchildren prepared for when they are on their own? Do we have the word of God written on our hearts so that our faith is strong?

Fear, and his best friend Worry, are huge problems for most women. In fact the phrase “do not be afraid” and “do not fear” are the most often found phrases in the Bible. We need to remember to be like the woman in Proverbs 31. Prepare as much as we can, then trust God to supply where we have fallen short.

Be A Modest Worker

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

• The phrase “bed coverings” is the Hebrew word marbaddim which means a tapestry coverlet.
• This verse lets us know that this woman is wealthy. She wears “fine linen and purple”. Both of these items were expensive, but she is also dressed properly for who she is. Her husband is an important man (verse 23) and they are rich. She does not dress too simply, nor does she dress too fancy. She is neither overdressed, nor underdressed. She is a classy lady.

Application Thoughts: Do I dress as a woman of my station, a Christian, a daughter of the King? Does my dress reflect modesty?

While we are not all able to afford expensive clothing, we are all able to dress in a way that is glorifying to our Lord. We should not dress to call attention to ourselves, but neither should we dress so that we look dirty or unkept. We should wear clothing that flatters us as women, but show that we are true Proverbs 31 ladies.

Be a Competent Worker 

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

• This woman is a benefit to her husband. She advances his position in the community. He can relax and do his job because she is taking care of all the domestic concerns.
• The phrases in this verse “known in the gates” and “sits among the elders of the land” refers to the Old Testament practice of having legal disputes and transactions settled by the elders of the town. We find an example of this in Ruth 4:1-12 when Boaz takes Ruth before the elders to confirm that he will be her redeemer as her closet relative.

Application Thoughts: Am I a blessing to my husband? Can he relax when he’s at work, knowing that I have things under control at the home? Does the way I conduct myself in public allow people to speak well of him in the community? Do I speak poorly of my husband to others therefore limiting his effectiveness with them?

The influence of a woman on her husband, her children, her friends, her acquaintances, the church, and the community cannot be over emphasized. We are always ambassadors of God and our spouse. We must make very sure that we are handling that role with competence and gentleness.

I don’t know anyone who has mastered this list, but this is what we strive for as Christian women. We want to be a worker in our homes, in the church, and in our towns that is characterized by all of these things: strong, industrious, humble, compassionate, prepared, modest, and competent. May the Lord bless us and help us to be a Proverbs 31 Worker.

By Chelli Guthrie

Chelli is the Let it Overflow Editor for CFYC. She and her husband, Luke, work with the Abell St. church of Christ in Wharton, Texas, where Luke is the pulpit minister. Chelli teaches the Jr. High class on Sunday mornings and leads the Children’s Bible Hour program on Sunday nights. She is a full-time mom who homeschools their three children: Grace (9), Sophia (5), and Levi (3). Her blog is www.theplantedtrees.blogspot.com.

Works Cited

Hunt, Donald. Pondering the Proverbs. Joplin: College Pres, 1974.

Spence, H. D. M. and Exell, Joseph S. The Pulpit Commentary: Proverbs. New York:      Funk and Wagnalls, ND.

Strong, James. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984.

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“Can you believe she…”  “Why would anybody…”  “Bless her heart, what was she thinking…” We’ve all been on the receiving end of comments like these, and likely the giving end as well, if we are honest with ourselves. Statements like these, filled with criticism and contempt, are often the sparks that ignite an inferno of sinful gossip. Yet, when we are approached by a sister or friend whose tongue is wielding such words, we are presented with a golden opportunity. In that moment, our response has the power to stir the pot of gossip or squelch it.

The Corinthians were no strangers to contentions. We know from 1 Corinthians 1:10 that there were divisions among them. In verse 3 of chapter 3, there was jealously and strife. These issues, no doubt, manifested themselves in the form of gossip just as they do today. In chapter 13, Paul provides the solution to their problems. How can love help us squelch the fire of gossip?

Love is Kind (1 Corinthians 13:4): One of the most common pieces of advice given to help diffuse harsh and critical words toward others is to give them the benefit of the doubt. Application of the golden rule is appropriate in any situation, but it requires training our hearts and minds for this attitude to be our first thought rather than an afterthought (Matthew 7:12). A simple response to our critical friend to stop gossip in its tracks could be one of kindness. “Even if that is true, Stacy has a wonderful talent in ministering to the elderly. That’s how I’d prefer to think of her.”

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Love is not puffed up (1 Corinthians 13:4): If we were to analyze the root of all inter-personal problems, I imagine a very high percentage would be based on the issue of pride. Who doesn’t like to be better than everyone else in a given situation? Yet, competitiveness and contentions between us could be avoided if we were simply willing to esteem others more highly than ourselves and have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11). How can I squelch gossip with humility? “Sorry, I have no room to criticize Stacy, I have my own imperfections to work on.”

Love is Patient (1 Corinthians 13:4): We know from passages like James 3 and many others that the tongue is our most difficult member to tame. Some of us may be further along in the discipline of our thoughts and words about others. Still, the opportunities to squelch gossip will come, and with it, the opportunity to patiently bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-2). “Mary, I know how easy it can be to be critical of Stacy sometimes, but I’m really working on trying to do better. Will you pray for me in this? I’ll pray for you as well, and maybe we can help hold each other accountable.”

In a world where we, as women, can be so competitive, critical, and down-right catty toward one another, may we remember that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Treating each other with a spirit of kindness is always the right thing to do. Humility works in all situations, and patience with ourselves and others can diffuse the most difficult of circumstances.

Lord, help me to exhibit the type of love that Christ showed me. May I use my words to show kindness, love, and patience to those around me. Help me to build up my sisters rather than tear them down. Give me courage to squelch the fire of gossip and not stir it.

Kathryn Baker

Kathryn and her husband Andy live in San Marcos, TX and worship with the University church of Christ where Andy has served as the Associate/Youth Minister for 6 years.  She stays at home with their 2 daughters and enjoys teaching Bible classes to children and ladies.

We’re all familiar with Proverbs 18:22: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Every married man experiences blessings from their wives. We give him companionship, children, and we are his helper. So any wife is a “good thing.” But should we be content with being a “good wife”? What if we could be an excellent wife? What if we could give our husband a real diamond instead of the discounted look-alike? Well that’s what Proverbs 31 is all about.

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“An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels,” (Proverbs 31:10). An excellent wife is like fine jewels. Both are precious, both are rare, both are hard to find, but an excellent wife is even more valuable. Let’s focus on that word “excellent” for a moment. I was surprised to learn that in the original language the basic meaning of this word is “strength” (Weber, 271). Many times in the Bible it’s translated as “might”, “power”, “ability”, “valiant”, etc… In fact, this is the same word used to describe David’s “mighty men of valor” (cf. 1 Chronicles 7:1). An excellent wife shows real strength, she’s full of virtue, and she’s willing to go above and beyond what’s typically expected of wives. This verse introduces us to the excellent wife, and begins a section that continues down through verse 30, listing all the qualities of what God’s inspired writer considers an “excellent” wife. In this article we’re just going to look at six of these qualities of the excellent wife, and try to make some modern day application so that we can all strive to be that excellent wife for our husbands.

1.      An excellent wife doesn’t max out the credit card

“The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain,” (Proverbs 31:11). As we study the Proverbs, one thing we’ll notice is that oftentimes the second part of a verse explains the first part of a verse. This is a common technique in Hebrew poetry called “synthetic parallelism.” This is very important in this verse because here “and he will have no lack of gain” explains what it means to say “the heart of her husband trusts her.” This is NOT talking about a husband trusting his wife with his emotions, but his wallet. The husband of an excellent wife is not the least bit concerned that she’s going to blow his paycheck and put him in debt (i.e. “he will have no lack of gain”).

If we want to be that excellent wife for our husband, we can’t allow our money to burn a hole in our pocket faster than we or our husband can earn it. Excellent wives budget their spending responsibly.

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2.      An excellent wife views her marriage as a marathon, not a 100 meter dash

“She does him good and not evil all the days of her life,” (Proverbs 31:12). Now the writer here is not talking about sinless perfection; if that were the case nobody could be an excellent wife. Instead, this is talking about her overall commitment to make sure that she’s going to please her husband each and every day, until death do us part. Some wives put their best foot forward at the beginning of their marriage, but later become satisfied with giving less effort. Excellent wives strive to do their best from the beginning, and see each day as an opportunity to keep improving.

If your husband was at the end of his life, and someone asked how he felt about his marriage to you, wouldn’t you want him to say, “I know there were hard times, but all I can think about is how good she was to me…”

3.      An excellent wife doesn’t spend her afternoons watching Oprah

“She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight,” (Proverbs 31:13). Notice the descriptions here. The fact that she “looks” shows she’s active and takes initiative. “Wool and flax” were every day essentials, used for weaving clothing. She “works with her hands” indicating she’s a hard worker. All of this is done in “delight” meaning she’s more focused on how much this will help her husband than having to do the work itself.

Whether it’s scrubbing toilets, cooking meals, working a paid job, or doing it all, it’s easy to feel unappreciated and unmotivated. An excellent wife takes joy in knowing what she does contributes to the well-being of her family. She does her important work without being resentful or dragging her feet.

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4.      An excellent wife will go the distance

“She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar,” (Proverbs 31:14). Why would anyone need a merchant ship? Well, because you don’t have what you most need and it’s far away! An excellent wife is very much like a merchant ship in that she puts in a considerable amount of effort to provide what her family needs most.

I know a mother who frequently drove three hours, one-way to bring her son to a special doctor to help him. We need to have this same attitude when we provide the things our family needs most. This even includes when our husband calls us up panicking because he needs supplies from the store to put together a business portfolio in an hour, even when you just got back from the store.

5.      An excellent wife is the oil that keeps the whole engine running smoothly

“She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens,” (Proverbs 31:15). Excellent wives get up early and make the most of their day because their time is too important to waste lying in bed. She’s fine with being inconvenienced because she knows how important her service is to those who are going to benefit.

Obviously, this applies to a wife who begins her day by waking up early and making sure her family has everything they need to start the day right (e.g. a hot meal). However, this principle could be applied in many ways. For example, this is just like the wife who invites visitors over to her house for lunch after worship, knowing she will have something to feed them because she has already made plenty of food before worship.

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6.      An excellent wife squeezes a penny and makes a nickel

“She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard,” (Proverbs 31:16). An excellent wife is industrious. Notice how she “considers” which means she does the proper research and planning; she doesn’t buy the first thing she sees. She’s able to buy a field because her husband trusts her financially (remember verse 11?). She’s able to plant a vineyard from her “earnings” which, in this context, might be money she made from selling the clothing she weaved from “wool and flax” (cf. Prov. 31:13).

Today we don’t buy many fields or plant vineyards, but there are still many applications of this verse. I know another woman who uses her talents in quilting, knitting, and especially woodworking to make quilts and furniture to sell for a profit. There are all sorts of ways we might use our talents and opportunities to benefit our family.

In briefly looking at this passage, God shows us at least six qualities we can all embrace as we strive to go from being a “good” wife, to becoming that “excellent” wife. Don’t you think our husbands deserve to see the real diamond come out in each of us?

Katie Simpson and her husband Jess are recent graduates of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. They are temporarily living in Durango, CO while Jess works as an intern preacher under the preacher Guy Orbison. Jess and Katie have no idea where they will end up, but Jess intends to be a full time pulpit preacher. In the past Katie has worked as a wildlife technician for the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept, the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the US Forest Service. Currently she is training their new puppy. Katie enjoys hiking, shooting archery tournaments with Jess and bird watching.

Works Cited

Weber, Carl Philip. “624 ????”. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr. and Bruce K. Waltke. electronic ed. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999.

Two weeks after my mother passed away, I was with a group of Christian women that I hadn’t seen for a few months. Of course they asked the obligatory, “How are you doing?” After barely waiting for an answer, they moved on to talking about the most recent snowstorm. That was it. They moved on. And there I stood, reliving the emotions of the past few weeks and months. It was then that I really realized that I have done this very same thing out of my own discomfort and awkwardness with others who have lost loved ones. I needed to be better. The answer to all of life’s problems can be found within the scriptures. In John 11, we read the account of Lazarus’ death and how those around him dealt with it.

First, we see that Jesus had spent time in the lives of Lazarus and his sisters. They knew He loved them. Verses 1-3 tell us, “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’”

One key lesson here is to be involved in people’s lives before a crisis. Jesus loved them well before this, so it was natural for them to call on Him during the crisis. It is important to be connected in other people’s lives as His church. We can spend more time together outside of worship and Bible class, being a part of each other’s lives. We can get to know our acquaintances and co-workers better so that when they are ready, we can be there to show Christ through our actions. The more we get to know people, the easier it will be for us to tell when there is something going on with them. The age-old saying fits here:  “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Second, Mary and Martha looked to the Lord for their comfort and hope. Verses 21-22 tell us about Martha: “Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’”

Mary said something similar in verse 32. They were dependent on what the Lord would do. When disaster strikes, do we turn to worldly people and answers rather than to God and His people and His answers? In this example, Jesus shows us how to be a comfort to others, but ultimately the comfort He gives is best because He is the Lord. He is the one that can always be depended upon. He is the One who provides the hope of an eternity together with Him. If we are consistently trying to follow God and His word by daily meditation in His word, attending Bible classes and worship regularly, it won’t be a big shock to our system to look to the Lord for our comfort and hope when we are really down and out.

Third, we find out that they listened to His teachings. Verses 23-27 reveal this: “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’  Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.’”

These facts were not a surprise to Martha at Lazarus’ death. It was obvious that they had spoken of these topics before this time. Sometimes I think we might say all the right things about Heaven. We want all of our loved ones to be there with us and to say all of those things we are supposed to say, but we don’t really live like we believe what He teaches. If we truly believe His word about salvation, lifestyle and worship, we will be trying to teach everyone we know. We need to have these tough discussions before we arrive at someone’s death bed. Unless the Lord returns first, that day is coming for everyone. While we have opportunity, let’s show our loved ones how much we really care about them by listening to His teachings and sharing them like souls are dependent on it.

The story goes on to show that the weeping of the sisters and the other Jews caused Jesus to be deeply moved in spirit and troubled. We see a glimpse into Jesus’ love and compassion in verses 33-35: “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.”

In the past, it has always puzzled me as to why Jesus wept. He knew that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Yet, He was still “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” The death of a loved one is an emotional, indescribable experience. When He saw Mary weeping, that troubled Him. When we are involved in others’ lives and they are hurting, it will hurt us too. Romans 12:15 tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Lastly, God was glorified by what was done. Verses 38-44 finish the story: ^“So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Remove the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”  Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’  So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.’  When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’  Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”

In my experience with my mother, she did not rise from the dead, but God was certainly glorified. I saw first-hand how His love works. Family and friends traveled hundreds of miles to be there with us for her funeral. Sisters in Christ from all over the country sent cards and well wishes. My coworkers provided food and time off for my family and me. Our home congregation has been so very giving and kind. My husband has taken wonderful care of me. My husband and sister-in-law sent me texts every morning for the first week that we were back home when I was missing my mom’s daily texts. My sister and I have gotten closer than ever before. And I have made it my aim to learn to be a better support to others who are hurting.

Heidi Sprouse and her family work with the Rocky Ford church of Christ, in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Her husband, Steven, is the preacher there. They have two children, Hannah, 13, and Caleb, 10. Heidi also works as a secretary for the local school district. She enjoys spending time with her family.

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My Mom gave me a beautiful stitched pillow with these words on it, “A Mother holds her child’s hand for a little while, their heart forever.” I never realized just how true this statement was until I held my first child! We only have a few short years to teach and train these precious souls before they grow to maturity, but our hearts are always with them. A godly woman continues to pray for her child and share her wisdom with them whenever she can. That is exactly what we find as we turn to Proverbs 31:1, “The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.” The whole chapter is power-packed with advice from a discerning mother to her son.

There is not a lot known about this king, which can be translated, “King of Massa,” and may be referring to the kingdom mentioned in Genesis 25:14, one of the sons of Ishmael. The important thing to focus on though, is not necessarily who it is written to, but the value of the inspired words.

Proverbs 31:2, “What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?” All of these words are endearing her son to her, especially when the words are repeated like this. He came from her womb and she may be implying that like Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:11, she had asked for him in prayer. His name, Lemuel, means “dedicated to God,” and so it would seem that she also has done as Hannah did and dedicated her son to the service of the Lord. This could also mean that her son is the object of her daily prayers and vows. Listen to the beautiful words of Hannah to the priest, Eli, as she presents her son to him, “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28. A godly woman will take her role as mother seriously, and will see that her children are taught the ways of God, Deuteronomy 6:7.

Proverbs 31:3, “Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings.” Here, she warns her son to focus on the important matters that he has as king. Some cultures in ancient times had rulers whose sexual prowess was the defining factor that demonstrated their greatness. Look at both King David and King Solomon. King David set out on a path of fornication and murder after watching Bathsheba bathe in 2 Samuel 11, and King Solomon’s many foreign wives turned his heart away, in 1 Kings 11:3. King Lemuel’s mother desperately wants her son to remain dedicated to the Lord and His ways.

Proverbs 31:4-7, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing and wine to him whose life is bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.” Here now is the second warning she has for her son. This implies the act of habitual drinking. Earlier in Proverbs this point is made vividly, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1. Being “under the influence” of alcohol could cause him to forget the laws, and consequently forget his responsibility also. He has a kingdom to answer to! God reminds us in Luke 12:48, “…and from everyone who has been given much shall much be required.” This also brings to mind a quote from a movie that I heard, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Peter Parker is told this by his Uncle Ben in Spiderman. Sometimes nuggets of truth can even be found in Marvel Comics! The point his mother is making is that she does not want the law obstructed in ways that the poor will be forgotten or abused. Strong drink clouds our thoughts and blurs our vision of what needs to be done, and when.

She then urges him to keep the strong drink for the dying, those in bitter distress, and the misfortunate-those who want to forget life. He has an important job to do as king, and he doesn’t have time for strong drink.

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Proverbs 31:8-9, “Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” She wants him to be a “voice” for the needy and make their views heard. He should be one who judges righteously and see that justice is carried out. The legacy of a king will long be talked about-who can forget King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, (1 Kings 14:9), or King Ahab (1 Kings 16:30) who “did more evil than all who were before him.”? You can see that she is adamant for her son’s rule to be remembered as a godly, fair, and righteous rule.

Proverbs 31:10-31 directs our attention to characteristics to look for when choosing an excellent wife. As we continue our study on this book, let us ponder the words of this wonderful proverb, as each subsequent writer takes a section of these verses remaining and discusses them. These are all things that as mothers of sons, we can teach them to look for; as mothers of daughters, aspire to imitate. If you are already a wife, implement these qualities in your life; and if you are single and looking for a husband, remember that a godly man will be watching for these traits in you!

Robin Martin

Robin Martin and her husband Randy are members at the South Twin Cities Church of Christ in Rosemount, MN, where Randy ministers as an elder. They just celebrated their 30 year wedding anniversary! They have seven children together, four of whom have married Christian spouses, giving them eight grandchildren! Robin enjoys running her in-home licensed daycare, teaching the baby and toddler classes for the church, leading ladies’ devotionals, and has had the privilege of speaking at Ladies Days in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. She loves to sew, quilt, cook, host events, and spend time with her family and friends!

The second stanza to L.O. Sanderson’s song, “Tis Set, the Feast Divine,” reads:

“May we the Lord discern,

His death our holy concern;

We feast in faith, His coming yearn

In the supper of the Lord.”

Our thoughts center on the cross while partaking of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday morning.  We can read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion, or contemplate whether or not our lives are demonstrating our appreciation for that great sacrifice.  We can think of the words to beautiful hymns like “The Old Rugged Cross.”  Several years ago I heard a preacher suggest the idea to mentally go through the alphabet and think of words that have to do with our Savior’s death, burial, and resurrection.  ”A” could be “atonement or arose.”  “B” could be “blood.”  “C” could be “cross, Christ, crucifixion, crown of thorns,” etc.

The purpose of this Bible-marking topic is to have various passages ready to read during the Lord’s Supper.  Because the contemplation time is usually brief, I would suggest dividing the verses into categories.  That way you can turn directly to what you want to focus on instead of going through the whole string of verses.  In the front of your Bible, this topic might look like this:

The Lord’s Supper

Commands- Matt. 26:26-28

Crucifixion- Psalm 22

Passover Lamb- John 1:29

Blessings- Rom. 8

Self-examination- Heb. 10:19-31

For each sub-topic, turn to the verse listed, and then write the next verse at the end of that passage, and so on.  Here are some suggested verses for each sub-topic.  You can keep adding your own as you come across them.

“Commands”

-Mark 14:22-24

-Luke 22:14-20

-Acts 20:7

-1 Cor. 10:14-17

-1 Cor. 11:23-29

“Crucifixion”

-Isaiah 53

-Matt. 27 & 28

-Mark 15 & 16

-Luke 23:1-24:12

-John 19:1-20:20

“Passover Lamb”

-Heb. 10:1-14

-1 Cor. 5:6-8

-1 Pet. 1:17-21

-Rev. 5

-Rev. 7:9-17

“Blessings” (because of the cross)

-Eph. 1:7-22

-Col. 1:13,14

-Heb. 4:14-16

-1 Pet. 1:1-9

-2 Pet. 1:1-4

-1 John 1:7

“Self-examination”

-Phil. 2:5-16

-Col. 3

-Tit. 2:11-14

-Heb. 10:19-31

-1 Pet. 2:21-25

-1 John 3:16-24

Johnson Kell presented the communion talk this past Sunday morning.  He will be either 93 or 94 years old this summer.  On the way home from worship, my son Dale said, “I think it’s neat that Brother Kell gets teary-eyed when talking about the cross.  He’s taken the Lord’s Supper for so many years, but it still means something to him.”  My husband Neal replied, “Perhaps it’s because he’s taken it for so many years.  He has grown to appreciate it more and more.”

Kathy Pollard

Kathy Pollard is married to Neal, whom she met at Faulkner University.  Neal preaches for the Bear Valley church of Christ in Denver, CO.  They have three sons–Gary, Dale, and Carl.  Kathy has enjoyed several short-term mission trips to Ukraine, Tanzania, and Cambodia.  She’s an instructor in the Women’s Program at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, and one of the directors of Higher Ground Encampment, a Bible camp for teen girls.

Premium Exports is a newsletter that can be used to reach and encourage women who may not get online very often. It’s sort of a mini-glimpse of what’s happening here at CFYC, but in a printable format (PDF) so others can join with us in growing toward God. You can print them and share around as you please. We’ve left a convenient place to put an address label, so mail it off if you’d like. Either way, we hope you’ll enjoy sharing this easy way to encourage the ladies around you! Watch for a new one each month.

P.S. It’s in color, but also looks great in black and white. To print in black and white, adjust your printer’s settings accordingly.

To download, click here:

April Newsletter

What to do:

1. Decide who you’d like to share with.
2. Print it Out
3. Share!
   Ideas: hand it to friends, leave a couple in your dentist’s waiting room, mail one to your grandma, put a stack next to the bulletins at your congregation. We don’t recommend dropping them from airplanes.

Note: Please do not alter the content, graphics or anything else about this newsletter. It is intended to be used as-is with the sole exception of the address area/ mailing section. Please feel free to use the mailing section to add your congregation’s name and address or your own name and address as well as your recipient’s name and address (we recommend using a mailing label). You may also include your congregation’s website, but please do not include other non-church of Christ-related URLs or websites. Thank you for respecting this ministry and helping us maintain a good name (Proverbs 22:1). If you have any questions, please email the editor at editor@comefillyourcup.com.

Click here for photo source

I am a new mother of a two month old little girl. The one piece of advice I have heard from everyone including medical staff, friends, and strangers at the airport is “they grow up so fast, enjoy every minute.” As much as I have heard this, I am not sure I know how to fully follow this advice. We all know how fast-paced life can be. Even though I don’t work a traditional job anymore, I can’t stand to sit still. If I sit on the couch for five minutes, all I can think about is what I could get done. Most of you probably live in a world full of demands between work, family, school, your home, sporting events, and church events. We live in a fast-paced world and there is always something else we could get involved in.

Over the past couple of months as I have tried to enjoy every moment of my daughter’s life, I can’t help but think, along with my daughter growing up so fast, life goes by fast. James 4:14 states “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” The other day, I was rocking my daughter to sleep.  While, many times, I am quick to put her down when she falls asleep for a mad dash to clean the house and get dinner ready, I decided to just rock a while. While I was rocking with my precious daughter in my arms, I started to sing devotional songs to her. I did this for at least an hour. I was so proud of myself after that for actually sitting still and enjoying it.  Since then I have taken that rocking time to read the Bible and just talk to God. Then I wondered how many days go by when I don’t meditate on the word or sing praises to God? Colossians 3:17 states “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”  I believe this verse is talking about our whole life, every single task of every single day. We have the opportunity to give glory to God in everything we do.

My daughter has forced me to slow down and enjoy every minute. Along with that, I have taken more time to focus on God. I think the only way we can remember God in every aspect of our lives is to slow down. If you are in a hurry to eat, how likely are you to skip praying beforehand or rush through the prayer, not thinking about what is being said? If we rush from one task or event to another, how do we have time to sit down and read God’s word? If you wake up in the morning with just enough time to get ready before rushing off to work, did you leave enough time to talk to God and read his word? How many days flash before us?

Ecclesiastes 9, verses 7-9 state:

“Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. ⁸ Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. ⁹ Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

In verse 9, we can replace woman with husband or child or friend. Maybe sometimes our life is too fast to truly enjoy the people in it, including God. I don’t want to later regret not enjoying every single day with my daughter. I pray the same for you.

Heidi Rice

Heidi Rice and her husband, Nick are missionaries on the Navajo reservation in Arizona at the Kayenta church of Christ. They have served there 3 years. Heidi enjoys teaching children’s classes and ladies’ classes as well as speaking at ladies days.