Category: Thankfulness

The Reward for the Excellent Wife - Proverbs 31:28

6/8/2013

Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

This is the part of the passage on the excellent wife that speaks of the rewards of her choices. The rewards are not received in ceremonies and award shows. She receives no trophies or plaques - no ribbons or citations are given to her. No, the reward of the excellent wife is far better than any of those things. Her reward comes from the praise and affirmation of those she has spent her life seeking to build up and bless. Her reward comes from her children and her husband.

The first thing we see here is that her children rise up and bless her. There are two words used for "bless" in the Scriptures. The word "barak" means to bless another - and most often refers to God blessing others. From what I've studied there is an aspect of grace here. God blesses others and chooses to bring blessing on them. The second word is the one we have used here and it is "ashar". It means to stand up and bless someone - to speak well of them - to compliment or praise them. For someone to receive this, they have to have done something. This kind of blessing is in a way earned by something someone has done to deserve being blessed or praised in this way. When we apply this to the excellent wife - she is blessed by her children - who have all benefited from her gracious works on their behalf. This lady is blessed by her kids - because they have all experienced her kindness and all the good things she does for them. The kids may not always do this - but the passage says that they "rise up" and bless her. The idea here is that as they get older - they come to appreciate what she has done on their behalf. There is also just a hint of them rising up in a kind of defense of their mother. If someone says something bad about mom - the children are quick to dispel this kind of talk by rising up and speaking well of her.

The second thing we see here is that her husband also speaks well of his wife. The word that is used here is "halal," which means "to praise." The kids rise up and say good things about mom - but her husband - he breaks forth into the Hallelujah chorus towards his wife. He has praise for her - but goes beyond what the kids have to say. In fact, we are given the verbiage of what he has to say about his sweet bride. We'll look into that another day. What I want to say here has two directions.

First is for us husbands and our children. Do you speak well of mom - on other days than the second Sunday in May (which is Mother's Day if you did not know). Mom needs our encouragement - and especially for us to RISE UP when our society speaks evil of mothers who give themselves for their families. She also needs her husband to do more than refer to her as the "ole ball and chain" or some other current stupid statement that is encouraged by men who are truly ignorant of the blessing God gave them. It is good to write her a note - or occasionally break out into your shorter version of the Hallelujah chorus for the Wife! You cannot imagine what a blessing it will be to her.

The second thing I want to do is to encourage the moms and wives who are not getting the praise from their families - and actually deserve some kind of acknowledgement. You will receive praise from God when you see Him for your sacrifice. I realize that you need some kind of encouragement now. Know this though . . . God sees everything you've done - your sacrifice - your tears - your laying down of your life to bless them. He will reward you for all of it on that day when men see the true value of a life lived for God's ways instead of those of our culture. You will be rewarded - and that reward will be from God Himself for a life lived to be an excellent wife for His glory.

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Who and What are You Working For? Proverbs 27:18

10/9/2012

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He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.
Proverbs 27:18

Today's proverb will instruct us on how to be blessed by your master or your employer. For those who lived as slaves in the day in which this proverb was written, it applied to those who cared for their masters. In our day, when slavery is not practiced as it was in Biblical days, it refers to our relationship with our employers - of for that matter - anyone under whose authority we find oursevles.

The picture used here is that of someone who is tending a fig tree. The one who does this task will get to eat from the fruit of the fig tree. There may be an encouragment here to serve over a long period of time, due to the fact that a fig tree is a tree that lives a long time. It is also one that matures rather slowly. A great reminder for us who have been conditioned to think a certain way in our "fast-food" society. We think if we serve a week, or month, or even a year or two, we should be rewarded richly. The use of the fig tree should point us to faithful service over the long haul - not just a few weeks, months, or years. When we serve faithfully over a long period of time - our master or employer will consider us worthy to be honored. This is especially the case with wise employers.

The word used for "cares" in the second part of this verse is the Hebrew word "samar." This is a word that means to watch over, keep, preserve, or guard. The idea is not of grudging service. It points to a careful watchfulness. IT refers to those who pay closer attention to what their master needs. It also reminds us that this kind of "care" is not done with a bitter, resentful heart. It is done with a loving watchcare.

There is another reason to live this way towards those in authority over us. When we do this, we are leaving the sweet savory aroma of Christ with them. They watch how we love and serve them - and wonder at what it is that motivates us to live as we do. There will most likely be some kind of reward or blessing for that hard work - but there will be something far more valuable than silver, gold, or awards. There will be the questions that we can answer as they ask, "Why do you work harder than anyone else? Why is it that you work this way without complaining? Why do you live this way - with such a different work ethic as well as a desire to honor me as your employer?" These are the questions that they should be asking as we work as unto God in their business. When they do ask, our reply will be first to give glory to God for our work ethic - and then to turn to the gospel whereby our hearts were transformed to be different than the rest of the world. You see, our work ethic - our willingness to work as unto God - our desire to care for our master/employer with love and hard work - are all for the purpose of glorifying God and the gospel of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. So . . . let me ask you in closing - through your work ethic have you glorified God today? Has how you worked made a way for the gospel that has changed your heart? You see, we do not work to bless our master for the reward of his favor alone. We work for our Lord and Master first and foremost for the glory of His grace and mercy. The fact that our earthly master notices and rewards us are just perks that come as we live to make much of our Heavenly Master.

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Uriah, David, and the High Price of Returning Evil for Good . . . Proverbs 17:13

11/17/2010

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He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. Proverbs 17:13

What kind of person would receive good from someone - and decide to repay them with evil in return? That is the question that comes to mind when reading today's proverb. That question is not answered in this statement. What is told to us is what such a wicked man should expect to receive from the hand of God.

The Lord does not look kindly on one who receives good and returns evil for it. We are told that for such a one, evil will not depart from his house. A good example of this principle at work is the house of David. David received good from the hand of Uriah the Hittite. Uriah had ignoble beginnings, being a Hittite. These people were not looked upon favorably by the Lord. In spite of this Uriah decided to draw near to God. At the time Uriah came to David, he was in distress because of the persecution and suspicion of King Saul. Nevertheless, Uriah joined up with David and became one of David's mighty men. He fought courageously with David and stuck with him through thick and thin. For Uriah, there was far more thin than thick. He stayed true though - even to the point of returning home from active duty due to the command of the king. When Uriah came home David invited him to a wonderful feast - during which time they drank and enjoyed enough wine for Uriah to become drunk. David then sent him down to his house and to his wife. But Uriah was a very faithful man and chose not to have sex with his wife - knowing that his men were enjoying no such respite from war while he was away. Mysteriously to Uriah, he was asked to come the next night for the same kind of sumptuous meal - and as he drank to please the king - he once again was seeminly led to get drunk. Once again he was sent to his home by his king - but chose a second night to live as his men lived, sleeping outside his home - and apart from his wife. Little did Uriah know that this choice would cost him and several of his men their lives.

David was guilty of committing adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife. He was also guilty of getting her pregnant. His invitation to Uriah was not one given honestly - but was a cover for getting Uriah to sleep with his wife as a cover for David's immorality. When this ploy did not work - David then had Uriah placed at the front lines of the battle - to be withdrawn from and killed. Uriah fell in battle - along with several of his men faithfully fighting by his side. Having been faithful to David and God - they did so to their deaths. The only thing unknown to them was that their deaths were not the result of the enemy - but rather a death sentence handed down from an ungrateful and immoral king. Some might cry foul here - and wonder how God could continue to bless David. Know this - He did not - until David came in broken-hearted repentance to God.

David paid dearly for repaying good with evil. I find it interesting that his son wrote these words. Solomon knew that the upheaval in his home and among his brothers was due to the sin of his father. I do not believe Solomon wrote this out of anger - just out of fact. David's household paid dearly for David's treachery. His two oldest sons died violent deaths as a result. One of his grandchildren was raped - and 10 of his concubines were raped in broad daylight in front of the entire nation. His kingdom was taken from him by his own son - who later died for his own treachery. David knew very well that when you repay evil for good that you never have evil depart from your house. Most likely he was the one who taught Solomon this truth from the Lord - and he most likely also warned his son of the horrific price that he had to pay for committing that very sin against God.

When someone does us good - we need to be sure that we return them good for what they've done. One of the best ways to be certain to follow this path is to be very grateful for whatever good comes your way. Thank God for what He has given you and thank others for what they do for you as well. Be certain to think highly of those who bless you - and do all that you can to repay everyone who does good to you in kind. This is a proverb that has been fulfilled for us right before our eyes in Scripture. Therefore we need to heed that warning - and always be sure to return good for good. The cost for ignoring this - and doing the opposite is hefty. You do not want to pay it!

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Proverb A DAy

The Reward for the Excellent Wife - Proverbs 31:28

Who and What are You Working For? Proverbs 27:18

Uriah, David, and the High Price of Returning Evil for Good . . . Proverbs 17:13

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The Reward for the Excellent Wife - Proverbs 31:28

Who and What are You Working For? Proverbs 27:18

Uriah, David, and the High Price of Returning Evil for Good . . . Proverbs 17:13

Proverb a Day

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