Let me make a few confessions. First, I’m a helpless, hopeless romantic. I often don’t have a clue how some guys pull it off. They come up with these dynamic plans for a special date, a day at the spa, etc. When Valentine’s Day approaches, I go into panic-mode. I can’t think of what to buy, how to surprise my honey, or how to “wow” her socks off.
Second, I’m not the emotional type, the ooey-gooey, syruppy, sappy kind of guy. I don’t cry much during romantic comedies or Hollywood-produced dramas (though I can get choked up during a classic like Milo and Otis). You’d think, being in the ministry, I’d be better with words. The reality is, I can’t always put all of my thoughts into words, much less on paper.
Third, I’m madly in love! I’m proud of my marriage. I’m grateful for my wife and the love we share. Though I have a long way to go and “He’s still workin’ on me,” you’d be hard-pressed to find a guy as committed to faithfulness in marriage than me. I’m wrapped up in my wonderful wife!
She’s the one whom God has used to keep me close to Him. She’s a spiritual thinker and has a heart for ministry to ladies. She keeps my head on straight. She’s not afraid to honestly criticize my dumb ideas and she’s the first in line to praise my successes. She works, not only so that our family can have adequate health care, but also because she has a calling to help hurting people. She counsels kids who have problems, who rarely get told that they’re worth anything.
She’s beautiful too. Her smile can be sweet, cute, or a little crazy looking, but I’m always thrilled to have her smile! More than any of these, she’s an awesome Mom! Our little girl is the apple of her eye and the utmost concern of her heart. She comes from good stock (had to plug the in-laws) and is determined to pass on the rich blessings she’s received.
Is she a Proverbs 31 “woman of perfection?” No. Only Jesus could live up to that, and He’s the “son of man,” not a daughter. Nonetheless, there’s nobody else on this planet that could compete for my affection. I love my wife, I love being married, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” -Proverbs 16:9
Have you ever mistakenly assumed that you are totally in charge of your own life? God created us to be choice-makers and we have certainly made our fair share of bad choices. He grants us free will, the ability to determine what we’re going to do at the crossroads’ of life. At the same time, however, He reserves the right to direct the course of human history as He wills. His sovereignty is never impugned by our choices.
Solomon said that a man plans his pathway in life, but then God directs the steps he actually takes. When I was a teenager, preaching was the furthest ambition from my mind. I would never have dreamed of being a pastor. I had plans of my own and they did not involve leading a church. But at some point, God began to change the direction of my heart so that I responded and desired to do the very thing He was calling me to do - preach. He placed people in my path that directed me toward ministry. I can look back now and see His guiding hand bringing me every step of the way to where I am now.
Have your plans matched God’s? It’s great to have a plan. It’s wise to think about the future and to get ready for the best and/or the worst, but remember that our plans are always subject to change depending on God’s plans. Go ahead and devise your way, but let God direct your steps today.
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” -Proverbs 16:6
We all want mercy when we’ve messed up, but we rarely want truth, but it is truth that really keeps us clean. Because of God’s mercy, He forgives us and wipes the sleight clean. But by speaking His truth to our lives through His Word, we are kept clean. We often make the assumption that when someone shows us mercy, they should then refuse to speak harshly with us. God handles our iniquity otherwise.
Remember the woman crumpled at Jesus’ feet who felt the mercy of God as the men dropped their rocks? Jesus then gave her a word of truth - “go and sin no more.” God’s mercy says, “Yes, I forgive you, but you’re going to have to change.” And it is in hearing these harsh truths from God that we revere Him and therefore, depart from evil.
Most of us want to be “off the hook” but we don’t want to learn anything from our experience. God, however, wants to change us through His truth so that we fear Him, and so that we depart from the evil of our pasts.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”—Proverbs 8:13
Sin is a bitter enemy. Until we learn to spot it, name it, and hate it, we’ll never overcome it. Learning to hate sin is a matter of agreeing with God about sin – sharing His perspective on it. Sin has done nothing but wreck and plunder God’s wonderful creation, so He detests it. Sin is the very opposite of all that is divine in nature, so God loathes it. Repentance demands that we turn from our sin and begin to agree with God about it – to hate it as He does.
Our problem is often that we minimize sin in our lives. Why? Because the world does so. When we laugh along with the world at inappropriate humor, at the triviality of injustice, or at the grossness of sin, we’re sort of participating in it, and we’re desensitizing ourselves to it as well. If you want to overcome sin, you must look at it the way God does – with hatred.
Never hate others. Never hate yourself. But learn to hate that which hurts you and others around you – sin.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”—Proverbs 31:10
The author of this great passage of Scripture is no doubt, King Solomon, writing under a pseudonym, King Lemuel. He is relating the advice his own Mother taught him about finding the right woman. There may have been some hint at a “dowry,” but Solomon’s intention was to show that a virtuous woman is of great worth, and priceless. Certainly for a King such as Solomon to find one who would truly love him, not for his riches, but for his soul, would be a rare find.
God often blesses us with priceless people. Today, Angie and I celebrate our eighth anniversary, and I can hardly believe it! I’m so thankful for the priceless woman God gave to me. I know that Angie selflessly loves me and supports me. I know that she cherishes our daughter with a deep adoration. She loves the Lord, His Word, and His church. She loves all children, everywhere, and works on their behalf daily.
The “Proverbs 31 Woman” is the ideal woman, a picture of perfection. She’s a protector (v. 11), a business woman (v. 13), a shopper (v. 14), a giver and a cook (v. 15), a real estate investor and a farmer (v. 16), a fitness queen (v. 17), a sleepless warrior (v. 18), a seamstress (v. 19), a philanthropist and humanitarian (v. 20), a decorator and fashion designer (v. 22), a distributor (v. 24), and an educator (v. 26). Who wants to model their life after someone like that???
The lesson of King Lemuel’s Mother surely was that the virtuous woman does whatever God’s will dictates with passion and perseverance. She is willing to be stretched for others, in the name of the Lord. Thank you, Lord, for the woman in my home who loves so many people with such great passion!!!
