May 7-8, 2005, Proverbs 31

MOTHER’S DAY
A WOMAN’S WORTH IS NEVER DONE!

*** Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.” [New Living Translation]

A WOMAN OF WORTH:

1. IS A SUPPORTER OF HER SPOUSE!
*** Proverbs 31:11-12 “Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 31:23 “Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 12:4 “A worthy wife is her husband's joy and crown; a shameful wife saps his strength.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 19:14 “You may inherit all you own from your parents, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.” [Contemporary English Version]

2. TEACHES THE LESSONS OF LABOR!
*** Proverbs 31:13-14 “She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant's ship; she brings her food from afar.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 31:17 “She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.” [NLT]

3. BUILDS A FOUNDATION FOR THE FAMILY!
*** Proverbs 31:15 “She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls.” [NLT]
*** Titus 2:4 “They train the younger women to love their husbands and children.”
*** Proverbs 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” [NIV]

4. SHOWS GOOD STEWARDSHIP!
*** Proverbs 31:16 “She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 31:18 “She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.” [NLT]
***Pr. 31:24“She makes belted linen garments & sashes to sell to the merchants.”

5. IS A MODEL OF MERCY!
*** Proverbs 31:20 “She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.” [NLT]
*** Acts 9:36 “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.” [NIV]

6. DEMONSTRATES PROPER PLANNING!
*** Proverbs 31:21 “She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 31:25 “… she laughs with no fear of the future.” [NLT]

7. KEEPS THE ROMANCE REAL!
*** Proverbs 31:22 “She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth.” [NLT]
*** Hebrews 13:4 “Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband.” [Message Bible]
*** 1 Cor. 7:3 “The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband.” [Msg]

8. SHOWS A STANDARD OF STRENGTH!
*** Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity….” [NLT]
*** 1 Tim. 3:11 “Wives must be respected and must not speak evil of others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.” [NLT]

9. IS TEACHING GOD’S TRUTH!
*** Proverbs 31:26 “When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.” [NLT]
*** 2 Tim. 3:14-15 “Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things. Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved.” [Contemporary English Version]
*** Deut. 6:4-7 “You must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands. Repeat them again & again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.” [NLT]

10. HANDLES THE HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT!
*** Proverbs 31:27 “She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.” [NLT]
*** Proverbs 29:15 “To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.” [NLT]
*** 1 Tim. 5:14 “So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.” [NIV]

11. PROVES THE PRIDE OF HER FAMILY!
*** Pr. 31:28 “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"

12. IS A GUIDE TO GODLINESS!
*** Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” [NLT]
*** 1 Peter 3:1-4 “If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do…, because he will see how you honor God and live a pure life. Don't depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful. Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.” [CEV]
*** 2 Tim. 1:5 “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois & in your mother Eunice &, I am persuaded, now lives in you.”

Proverbs 31:10, 31 “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” [NLT]