(Please do not read this as a complaint towards men, but as my personal challenge to you.)
I see it on a lot of men�s profiles that they want a woman like the one in Proverbs 31, a woman with a �quiet spirit�, or quoting the description of a wife�s duties in Ephesians 5:22-24. There is so much of �here is what I want,� and almost none of �this is what I am�, be it by Biblical or shallow standards. I have gotten first messages that have been like interrogations, IM chats that are one-sided interviews, complaints that he just cannot find a good woman.
But what about you, brothers, potential husbands and fathers? Being the head of the body does not give you a position of power, but a responsibility for righteousness.
There is no perfect woman, but will you still �present her to [yourself] as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless�? (Eph.) �A loving doe, a graceful deer�? (Proverbs 5:19) Beauty is fleeting, but will her body �satisfy you always,� and will you �ever be captivated by her love�? (Prov. 5:19)
What of your responsibilities listed around the scriptures you love to quote?
�Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.� (Ephesians 5:21)
Most of the men on the profiles want a Proverbs woman, but where are the men who are after God's own heart and the woman God has ordained for them????
No one is perfect, except Jesus and we strive to be like him daily, and don't be discouraged, and don't allow the postings get you down, it just shows how less these men know the Word of God and who want -----what and who God has for them!!:applause:
Many men do not understand Proverbs 31 unless they themselves have given themselves as weaker vessels willingly to Christ, their Headship (their spiritual husband) and to the same process described in Ephesians chapter 5: 25-30. 1 Corinthians 11:3 states clearly that the Head of every man is Christ, just as the head of the woman is man. In this way, many verses that apply to women, apply to us men 1st in relation to Christ.
A husband of noble character who can find? He is worth far more than rubies. His Spiritual Husband (Christ) has full confidence in him and lacks nothing of value. He brings Christ�s Body (the church) good, not harm, all the days of his life. He selects wool and flax (things used to make coverings � spiritual coverings) and works with eager hands. He is like the merchant ships, bringing his food (spiritual food) from afar. He gets up while it is still dark (like Christ); he provides food (spiritually and physically) for his family and portions for his fellow servants. He considers a field and buys it (where to sow spiritually); out of his earnings (the faith he�s been given) he plants a vineyard (to bear spiritual and physical fruit). He sets about his work vigorously; his arms are strong for his tasks. He sees that his trading is profitable (where his time, life and effort has been spent), and his lamp does not go out at night (Christ in him does not fail in the darkness). In his hand he holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with his fingers (again things used to make coverings � of righteousness for others). He opens his arms to the poor and extends his hands to the needy (like Christ). When it snows, he has no fear for his household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet (results of having spiritually covered his family with Christ though the world around them grows colder). He makes coverings for his bed (of righteousness); he is clothed in fine linen and purple (Royalty/ Christ). His Spiritual Husband/ Headship is respected at the city gate, where HE (Christ) takes HIS seat among the elders of the land (as their Headship). He makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes (he works for that, which is eternal and is provided for by God). He is clothed with Strength and Dignity (Christ Himself); he can laugh at the days to come (for he trusts in the Lord). He speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on his tongue. He watches over the affairs of his household (including the church) and does not eat the bread of idleness (feed from the world). His children (spiritual children) arise and call him blessed; his wife also, and she praises him: Many men do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and physical appeal is fleeting; but a man who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give him the reward he has earned, and let his works bring him praise at the city gate (God honors those who honor Him).
"There is no perfect woman, but will you still �present her to [yourself] as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless�?
= Can a man desire that which he has not seen (understood) personally for himself? Can someone with a plank in their own eye, remove the speck of dust from yours? No. As a man, you can only lead someone in as much as you�ve been led by Christ - your own Spiritual Head. Apart from that, a man can only put on an act.
�A loving doe, a graceful deer - may her bre asts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.�
= These verses are the results of Ephesians 5:25-30 taking place in the life of the man 1st in relation to Christ. This cannot come about apart from that process. If a husband�s desire and longing for his wife is not fueled by revealing Christ in her (as Christ�s is for the church) through the washing of God�s Word, then his desire for her physically will fade as her physical beauty fades, instead of becoming greater as Christ is revealed in her more and more.
She will not be loved. Relationships become prisons.
I understand perfectly what you are trying to say,unfortunatly most of us men take a long time get it when it comes to women!I think,it has to do with selfishness,which is probably the number one relationship killer!If you think about it,selfishness could be attributed to most sins!I know that if god allows me an oppurtunity to have a godly wife,I am going to try to always put her needs before mine,if i do this,I would be willing to bet it would have a greater chance to be a succsessful,fullfilling marraige!
dear dream, i see what you was tryin to do here. but i surely wished you hadnt of changed the word of GOD to make your point.. its very dangerous to change the word of GOD.. i do believe.. even to make a point..
When Jesus explained His parables to His disciples using different words than He had used while originally relating the parables to the crowds, was He changing the meaning of what He had said, or was He revealing the meaning that was already there?
When Jesus explained to the crowds that it was necessary to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, most of His followers left Him except for the 12. Why? Because they failed to see the true meaning in what was being said, which would have required them to alter the words originally used by Christ - God Himself.
There is implied meaning found throughout the scriptures. The Jews failed to understand these meanings by taking things literal, and they crucified their own Messiah - Christ.
So, my question would be, did I actually change the meaning of this passage of scripture, or was the meaning already there?
Lets get back to the roles of husbands and wives...If a woman,,such as the infamous Proverbs lady,,takes care of and loves her man,,and ladies that is what we do,, and he takes care of and love his woman,,such as the Ephesians man,, and both put aside the flesh and do it God's way,,then we will have a marriage that will stand anything.
I get tired of hearing about the Proverbs lady myself, but face it,,she is our role model. I listed in my profile that i do not have all of her qualities, doesn't mean I'm not gonna reach for the goals she has laid out for us. I am not her and I will never be, I believe the man God chooses for me will understand that and not press me into her mold.
As wives, we need to stand behind the man we choose, so choose well. Poor yourself into your man. It won't mean you will loose yourself, it means you will become one flesh.(that becoming part is where the work is).
My hope is to let God use me in the life of another Godly man.
May we let God's truth be known through what He has ordained.
It is NOT about us and what we want. It is about HIM and what He wants done in our lives to further the Gospel of Christ.
I had believed that God put my late husband in my life so that I would get saved. After he passed away God revealed to me that He had put ME in my husbands life so that HE would get saved. I got saved first and God called him out first. So in this way I was used of God through my christian marriage.(I have a very good testimony about this, maybe someday I will post it).
Anyway ladies and gentlemen, lets not debate about scripture, let's just follow through with them.
dear dream man, theres one important thing you have to remember here.. JESUS explaind HISSELF further to the deciples.. and may of changed what HE said to the crowd,so they could better understand HIM. that was JESUS though.. HE had the right to change anyhthing HE said, as HE was gettin it straight from GOD.
we dont have that right.. we are to preach and teach exactly what the bible says..
what you did in the proverbs 31 ,by changin the words wife, woman,.her etc to husbands ,man his ect. see that totally changed the word of GOD as it is written in the bible. the men have their own teachings from GOD on their responsibility in others scriptures in the bible.. although i totally understand that you were just tryin to make a great point.. we are told not to teach or preach any other gospel.. and by changin those proverbs 31 verses then thats what has hsppened..
galatians 1:8-9 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
I would like to encourage you to go further in your explanation, but I suggest that we not do it here. People need to be led. If you believe that I need correction, then I encourage you to lead me, either publicly or privately. Teaching and understanding are much more powerful than simply correcting.
As it stands, you have just suggested to others how to correctly interpret Proverbs 5 and 6: 20-35. Passages of scripture that warn us about the �adulterous�. Another strictly female role � according to what the Bible says, if taken literally.
