Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Study of Provbers 31 - Week #6 - Self-Sacrificing

"She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." - v.12

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens." - v.15

"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." - v.20

A godly woman is self-sacrificing. She does her husband good, not just herself. She provides for her household and servants, not just herself. She gives to those in need instead of selfishly hoarding her resources. 

Webster's Dictionary - Sacrifice: offering up something precious; surrender of something for the sake of something else; something given up

To be self-sacrificing is to offer up ourselves (don't we all view ourselves as precious?), to surrender our desires and wants for the sake of others. 

1. Matthew 5:38-42 - we ought not to get even or get our just deserts, but rather to sacrifice for others
2. Matthew 10:39 - we must lose our life for Christ's sake
3. Matthew 16:25-26 - we must lose our life to find it in Him
4. Mark 8:35-36 - we must lose our life to save it
5. Luke 9:24-25 - what advantage is the whole world if we lose our soul?
6. John 12:25 - we must lose our earthly life to keep our eternal life
7. John 15:12-13 - Jesus displayed the greatest love by laying down His life for us
8. Acts 20:24 - we should not count our own life as dear as serving others
9. Romans 12:1 - we ought to sacrifice our bodies to God
10. 1st Corinthians 13:5 - love does not seek its own benefit
11. Ephesians 5:2 - to walk in love is to sacrifice for others
12. Philippians 2:17 - it is a joy to sacrifice for others
13. 1st John 3:16 - we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren

Jesus is the ultimate example of self-sacrificing love, in that he laid down His own life in order to save ours. If we seek to save our own life, we will lose it, but if we lose it for Christ's sake, we will find eternal life in Him. What advantage is the whole world if we lose our soul? So,w e should surrender our own selves for the sake of Christ. 

Once we are surrendered to Christ, we ought also to sacrifice ourselves for others, because this is an example of true love, which does not seek its own benefit. Though we may want to look out for ourselves and get our "just deserts", real joy will come as we treat serving others as more important than serving ourselves.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #5 - Committed

"She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." - Proverbs 31:12

A godly woman is committed - all the days of her life.

Webster's Dictionary - Committed - having made a pledge to someone or something

Commit - to carry through to completion

1. Ecclesiastes 7:8 - the end is better than the beginning; be patient till then
2. Luke 9:62 - those who look back are not fit for the kingdom of God
3. Romans 2:6-8 - those who continue in well-doing will receive eternal life
4. 1 Corinthians 13:7 - love endures all things
5. Galatians 6:9-10 - do not grow weary of well-doing
6. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - do not grow weary of well-doing, even if others take advantage of you
7. 2 Timothy 2:3 - endure as a good soldier
8. Hebrews 6:13-15 - those who patiently endure will receive the promise
9. Hebrews 10:38-39 - those who draw back from the faith give God no pleasure
10. James 5:11 - those that endure are happy
11. 2 Peter 2:20-22 - those who return to their sinful ways would have been better off never knowing the truth

The Bible speaks strongly of those who begin to follow God, but turn back - they are not fit for the kingdom of God, they give God no pleasure, and they would have been better off never having known the truth. Our first and strongest commitment needs to be that of following God.

We must endure to the end as a good soldier does, because love endures all things. Those that endure to the end will be happy and will receive the promise of eternal life. No matter how exciting and trilling the beginning of a new venture is, the bringing of it to completion is so much more fulfilling - be patient till the end!

Even if others take advantage of us or do not appreciate us, even if the days are long and dreary, we should not grow weary of well doing - in good timing, we WILL reap the benefits!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #4 - Trustworthy

"The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." - Proverbs 31:11

Webster's Dictionary - Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something

Strong's Concordance - Trust: to trust, have confidence, be bold, be secure

The husband of a godly woman has confidence and security in the character, abilities, and truth of his wife, and knowing that he can trust her gives him boldness. 

1. Proverbs 11:13 - is discreet in what information is given out
2. Proverbs 13:17 - brings healing
3. Proverbs 14:5 - does not lie
4. Proverbs 20:6 - a truly trusty person is hard to find
5. Proverbs 25:13 - is refreshing to those who trust in you
6. Proverbs 25:19 - unfaithfulness will be like a broken foot to those who trust in you
7. Psalm 31:23 - the Lord preserves the faithful
8. Luke 6:10 - is faithful in matters for big and small
9. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 - we are required to be faithful stewards of God
10. 1 Timothy 3:11 - deacon's wives ought to be faithful in all things
11. James 5:12 - be true to your word

It is hard to find a truly trustworthy person; but, we are stewards of all God has given us and as such we are required to be faithful with it. 

A trustworthy person is faithful in all matters, both great and small, no matter who is watching or what rewards will come. They never lie, but are also discreet about what information they share - they are not a gossip. 

Unfaithfulness will be like a broken foot to those who trust in you, hindering them from their own work and causing pain. But, true faithfulness will be refreshing to those who trust in you and will bring healing. 

A deacon's wife specifically ought to be faithful in all things but truly any man would be desirous of a trustworthy wife, because her reliability will be of great benefit to them both. God also will preserve those who are trustworthy and faithful to Him.