Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 1 Nov, 2013 09:34 PM
Ok we all are familiar with the virtuous Proverbs women in God's Word(Proverbs 31:10-31). Many of your profiles I've read, state your desire to marry one with, hopefully, similar qualities. When reading those verses within a modern day structure, I gotta tell you fellas, most of who she was then was.....well she was a "work horse"......
Proverbs 31:13---She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands
Proverbs 31:14---She is like the merchants' ships she bringeth her food from afar
Proverbs 31:16---She considereth a field and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard............
Proverbs 31:17----She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms
Proverbs 31:18-----She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
(I mean girlfriend was virtually a "superwomen" and of course a supermom and wife(smile)lol!!!)
......if you continue thru you'll see more examples of such. Now I know women of today aren't expected to aspire to such high demands in our present times, but I am curious to know how my brothers in The Lord really feel about this(smile)!
Now the verse that inspired me the most was verse 30---Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a women that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. After everything is said and done, this verse I would do all I could to aspire to!!!!!
Guys my question is this, in this modern 21st century we live in where everything is virtually "microwaveable" ---everybody wants everything YESTERDAY, can you realistically give a true, modern day version of your "Proverbs 31 Women"?
***Now be careful fellas, the ladies I bet are really going to read your responses very, very carefully..... so you don't want them to come back out at you with all they got:boxing:(smile)lol!!! Be blessed and enjoy!
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 1 Nov, 2013 10:27 PM
I've never really known what to make of the Proverbs 31 woman, or why it garnishes more attention than other non-gender specific Christian characteristics. I never heard of it until I joined this. She sounds a lot like my Great-grandmother, Grandmothers, and Great Aunts. They were freakin' TOUGH in a way that, no offense, is really hard for me to picture a lot of the women I see these days as being.
So version I have is a bit more new testament. She always helps the poor, and those with substance abuse problems, extremely kind, and always does her best to let the people in her life know that they are loved, is involved with programs in her church that benefit the city/community, and is always learning and bettering herself and get even stronger mentally and spiritually by seeking out Christian counseling on topics like finances, marriage, handling conflict, etc. And overall at complete peace and joy in knowing God is in control.
All these things are based on somebody I used to know. I really wish I saw more of that in everybody these days, myself included, because I really don't, at least with most of the single people I know who are my age. I know my crowd pretty much works and goes to school fulltime which doesn't leave much time and energy left over for the kind of things I mentioned, but still I wish I could be like that or know some one who was like that again.
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 10:45 AM
Exactly my point wykd1.....we non-Jewish/Christian women of God will stop beating ourselves over the head with this concept, when you non-Jewish Christian brothers would stop helping us!:peace:
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 11:00 AM
Thank you R8E8.....you've pretty much understood how virtually impossible for todays' women to even try and stand up to those standards of so long ago! That was and is the whole point to this exercise......to help those brothers who do desire if even at best a few of those qualities in their mate from back then, to be realistic and work within the parameters of a 21st century paradigm!
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 11:56 AM
"you've pretty much understood how virtually impossible for todays' women to even try and stand up to those standards of so long ago! "
Why? That's counter-intuitive on so many levels. Women today have access to abundant resources that the women back then did not. Women have access to education of all sorts. A woman can even sit at home and earn college degrees. Women today have access to all kinds of modern transportation, information, machinery, appliances, computers, smart phones, etc. etc. With all of these efficiencies and resources, women today should have far greater productivity levels. To say otherwise, is to close your eyes and bury your head in the sand. To "work within the parameters of a 21st century paradigm" as you put it would be to increase the expectations of a Prov. 31 and not mitigate them.
Why don't we just tear Prov. 31 out of the Bible since nobody can possibly live up to such a standard? Trying to adapt the Word of God to fit the culture is wrong-headed. If we are believers in the Word, we must work to adapt the culture to fit the Word of God. Glean the principles from the passage and apply them to every area of thought and life.
Proverbs 31:13---She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands
What is the principle here that can be deduced and applied?
Proverbs 31:16---She considereth a field and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.....
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 03:54 PM
Exactly IWA! Were saying the same thing, but in just different ways! I totally agree with you that modern technology has brought society, in it's entirety, to such new heights that the benefits will be here to stay long after were gone! Your helping, whether you want to believe it or not, bring home my point!
It's just some of our brothers in Christ who may not really understand that the concept of "the Proverbs 31 women" was for that time then, not so much for the times we live in today. I wish we could remove that controversial verse from in His Word, but you know that's wishful thinking....it's there to stay! I just think it needs to be interrupted in it's correct light, so it could be respectfully understood by all!
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 05:43 PM
HJMP
There are books and sermons on this. I like things condensed. Looking at the verses you cited.
31:13 She worked diligently, she made sure that her family was clothed.
31:14 provides food for her family
31:16 Shrewd in business/handling of families finances and affairs
31:17 She is strong in her feminity, not making excuses
If modern society cannot fit itself to a proverbs 31 woman then society needs to changes not the woman. Scripture doe not need to change we need to allow scripture to change us.
1Kings 9:1 tells us that Solomon built the temple and the palace. We know from the rest of scripture that he oversaw thousands as they built the temple. Using scripture to interpret scripture we can believe that the Proverbs 31 woman oversaw a household of servants. This means that she was a trustworthy woman in all that she did. Her husband trusted her and she proved his trust was put in the right place. Juxtapose this against Potifer's wife. She did not earn his trust so he put a foreign slave in charge of his household. How many wives or husbands for that matter can be trusted wholeheartedly by their spouse? How often does one have to hide the checkbook from the other because one of them cannot be trusted to not compulsively buy a new pair of shoes or a fishing rod?
No we need to apply this and all scripture to our own lives and strive to live up to it. When we fail we have a redeemer in Jesus who picks us up and gives us another opportunity to try again. If we nullify scripture making it easier to lower God's standards then we are effectually saying that we don't need Jesus. Vilify me if you like but I need the PERFECT word of God to remind me that I'm not all that otherwise my pride will run amok. r
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 06:04 PM
As a Post Script
It was said that the Proverbs 31 woman was a workhorse.
Martin Luther is well know for teaching about how our work is an act of worship and honoring to God. In our society it is rare to see anybody work hard. Christians should stand out in the work place because of our hard work. Because we are to " work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Col.3:23
I attend a church were the average age of congregants is about 20 years older then I am. They are retired and from all appearances are sitting around waiting for death or the rapture whichever comes first. This is not scriptural. Paul told us to run so as to win the race. Me, I would rather work hard until I die in worship to my Lord then be useless to Jesus. To quote music lyrics "it's better to burn out then fade away". Burn brightly for Jesus Ya'll. r
Modern day version of the Proverbs 31 Women........
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 09:02 PM
1jon310, please don't get me wrong! I could never water down Gods' word even if I tried......I love it, in it's entirety much to much to do that! I'm going to step out on a limb here speaking for just myself.......I as a contemporary, 21st century women of God, know that when The Lord blesses me with my spouse and family, truthfully I know I won't be planting vineyards, or sewing my families clothes or traveling afar for food to feed them or staying up all night cooking, cleaning, washing etc.(smile)! But I will be that wife and possible mother who will pray diligently for her family....again striving to be that example in Proverbs 31:30, "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth The Lord, she shall be praised".
At my age and generation that I come from, those things were done by my mother, aunts and great aunts. I was taught how to do those things, but again at my age now....well I have to be realistic(smile)! Now that doesn't say that I won't do whatever it takes to make my family comfortable, providing for them however I can, loving them unconditionally, but I am very aware of my limitations! Those younger than me myself probably have a completely different mindset towards this......for example my young nieces(smile)lol!!!!
Seriously 1jon310, I am the type of woman who will do ALL I can to live the Word and not just speak it! Believe me, that and prayer has been the only way that I have been able to survive thus far, with of course too by the power of The Holy Spirit:prayingm:
