Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Year 5, Day 322: Proverbs 31

Theological Commentary: Click Here


Discipleship Focus: Character

  • Character: Having the interior life that is necessary to support the work that God sets before a person.  It is hearing from God and obeying.  It is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.

As we close out Proverbs, we get two really good perspectives on character.  The first perspective is that of what it means to be a leader.  Take a long look at the two topics that the author desires for her son to hear. 
  • First of all, leaders do not give themselves to women.  Now, this doesn’t mean that a leader doesn’t get married or know the blessing of a strong marriage.  What it means is that a leader doesn’t give himself over to the pursuit and desires of women.  A leader leads, and lets those be drawn to him who will come through his example.
  • Second, leaders don’t participate in strong drink.  I find this point amusing.  How often in culture do we assume that leadership and alcohol mix together?  Don’t we joke about board meetings truly being completed in the drinks that follow the meeting?  How often do we think that decisions are best made with a drink in hand?  Yet the message here is really clear.  Decisions need to be made with a clear mind, not clouded with that which alcohol brings.

The last thing that we hear in the book of Proverbs is a wonderful testimony to the character of a good wife.  A good wife trusts.  A good wife seeks the good will of her family.  She is a servant leader.  She is a hard worker.  She is generous.  She anticipates the needs of those underneath her care.  She teaches out of her wisdom.  What a wonderful way to end this book!

<><

No comments:

Post a Comment