Getting Our Priorities StraightGetting Our Priorities Straight

RBC ChapelRBC Chapel

November 10, 2010November 10, 2010

Proverbs 31:10Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. (NKJV)worth is far above rubies. (NKJV)

A wife of noble character who can find? A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (NIV)She is worth far more than rubies. (NIV)

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. (NLT)She is more precious than rubies. (NLT)

An excellent wife who can find? For her An excellent wife who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. (NASB)worth is far above jewels. (NASB)

The Hebrew word translated The Hebrew word translated “virtuous,” “noble character,” “virtuous,” “noble character,” “excellent,” or “virtuous and “excellent,” or “virtuous and

capable” is capable” is chayil.chayil.It appears in Proverbs 31:3: It appears in Proverbs 31:3:

“Do not spend your “Do not spend your chayilchayil (strength) on women…”(strength) on women…”

ChayilChayil is a common word in the is a common word in the Old Testament, used 246 times:Old Testament, used 246 times:

It’s used 3 times of a woman It’s used 3 times of a woman (Ruth 3:11, Prov 12:4, 31:10), (Ruth 3:11, Prov 12:4, 31:10),

but in most other cases it but in most other cases it describes soldiers or armies. It’s describes soldiers or armies. It’s

basic meaning is basic meaning is strength.strength.

A A chayilchayil person (man or person (man or woman) has an inner strength to woman) has an inner strength to carry through on responsibilities carry through on responsibilities

and to overcome obstacles.and to overcome obstacles.Proverbs 31:10 is about this Proverbs 31:10 is about this

kind of person: strong, valiant, kind of person: strong, valiant, committed. committed.

Proverbs 31:11-12Proverbs 31:11-12

Her husband has full confidence in her Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. good, not harm, all the days of her life. (NIV)(NIV)

The heart of her husband safely trusts her, The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her him good and not evil all the days of her life. (NKJV, similar in NASB)life. (NKJV, similar in NASB)

The first characteristic of a The first characteristic of a person of strength is that person of strength is that

you are you are TRUSTWORTHY.TRUSTWORTHY.

Are you a trustworthy person? Are you a trustworthy person? Can you be trusted to do good, Can you be trusted to do good, not harm, all the days of your not harm, all the days of your

life?life?

Proverbs 31:13-18Proverbs 31:13-18

A strong, committed person is also A strong, committed person is also SHREWD: someone who is intelligent, SHREWD: someone who is intelligent,

wise or clever. wise or clever.

This shrewd person doesn’t take advantage This shrewd person doesn’t take advantage of other of other peoplepeople, but knows how to take , but knows how to take

advantage of advantage of opportunities.opportunities.

Shrewdness looks like this in verses 13-18:Shrewdness looks like this in verses 13-18:

Proverbs 31:13Proverbs 31:13

““She selects wool and flax and works with She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.”eager hands.”

The shrewd person chooses his or her tasks The shrewd person chooses his or her tasks and materials with care and then works and materials with care and then works

with them with delight. with them with delight.

Proverbs 31:14-15Proverbs 31:14-15

““She is like the merchant ships, bringing her She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and dark; she provides food for her family and

portions for her serving women.”portions for her serving women.”

The shrewd person looks ahead and The shrewd person looks ahead and prepares for the future, not just for the prepares for the future, not just for the

present. present.

Proverbs 31:16Proverbs 31:16

““She considers a field and buys it; out of her She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.”earnings she plants a vineyard.”

The shrewd person thinks through his/her The shrewd person thinks through his/her projects carefully and plans how to carry projects carefully and plans how to carry

them out successfully. them out successfully.

Proverbs 31:17Proverbs 31:17

““She sets about her work vigorously; her She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks” (NIV)arms are strong for her tasks” (NIV)

“…“…she makes her arms strong” (NASB)she makes her arms strong” (NASB)

“…“…She strengthens her arms” (NKJV)She strengthens her arms” (NKJV)

The shrewd person improves his/her The shrewd person improves his/her knowledge and skills in order to work knowledge and skills in order to work

smarter, not harder. smarter, not harder.

Proverbs 31:18Proverbs 31:18

““She sees that her trading is profitable; and She sees that her trading is profitable; and her lamp does not go out at night” (NIV)her lamp does not go out at night” (NIV)

““She perceives that her merchandise is She perceives that her merchandise is good…” (NKJV)good…” (NKJV)

The shrewd person makes quality products The shrewd person makes quality products that can be sold without shame or fear.that can be sold without shame or fear.

Proverbs 31:19-20Proverbs 31:19-20

““She stretches out her hands to the distaff, She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. and her hands grasp the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor, She extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to the And she stretches out her hands to the needy.” (NASB)needy.” (NASB)

Shrewdness must always be Shrewdness must always be tempered by generosity. tempered by generosity.

Otherwise, it becomes greed.Otherwise, it becomes greed.

Proverbs 31:21Proverbs 31:21

““When it snows, she has no fear for her When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in household; for all of them are clothed in

scarlet.”scarlet.”

The wise person of strength is diligent in The wise person of strength is diligent in caring for the needs of others, even when caring for the needs of others, even when

it snows in the Middle East (!). it snows in the Middle East (!).

Proverbs 31:22Proverbs 31:22

““She makes coverings for her bed; she is She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.”clothed in fine linen and purple.”

This wise person is also diligent in caring for This wise person is also diligent in caring for his/her own needs.his/her own needs.

Proverbs 31:23Proverbs 31:23

““Her husband is respected at the city gate Her husband is respected at the city gate where he takes his seat among the elders where he takes his seat among the elders

of the land.”of the land.”

This wise person’s handling of life earns her This wise person’s handling of life earns her husband respect among the elders of the husband respect among the elders of the

city.city.

Proverbs 31:24Proverbs 31:24

““She makes linen garments and sells them, She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”and supplies the merchants with sashes.”

We see this wise person at work producing We see this wise person at work producing income for her family in order to help income for her family in order to help others.others.

Proverbs 31:25Proverbs 31:25

““She is clothed with strength and dignity; She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”she can laugh at the days to come.”

This person’s diligence is such that she This person’s diligence is such that she does not have to worry about the future.does not have to worry about the future.

Proverbs 31:26Proverbs 31:26

““She speaks with wisdom, and faithful She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue” (NIV)instruction is on her tongue” (NIV)

““She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” teaching of kindness is on her tongue”

(NASB)(NASB)

The strong wise person always speaks The strong wise person always speaks wisely and kindly. He/she not only walks wisely and kindly. He/she not only walks

the walk, but also talks the talk.the walk, but also talks the talk.

Wisdom throughout the book of Wisdom throughout the book of Proverbs is about making wise Proverbs is about making wise

decisions in the thick of life. decisions in the thick of life. In Proverbs 8:35-36, Lady Wisdom tells In Proverbs 8:35-36, Lady Wisdom tells us that those who love her will live, but us that those who love her will live, but those who sin against her wrong their those who sin against her wrong their

own souls. own souls. Wisdom is the stuff of everyday life, but Wisdom is the stuff of everyday life, but

it is also the stuff of life and death.it is also the stuff of life and death.

Proverbs 31:30Proverbs 31:30

““Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but the person who fears the Lord is to be but the person who fears the Lord is to be

praised.”praised.”

The bottom line: The bottom line:

The wise person knows the difference The wise person knows the difference between what passes and what lasts, and between what passes and what lasts, and

chooses to live for what is eternal.chooses to live for what is eternal.

The “fear of the Lord” is a The “fear of the Lord” is a reverent understanding of who reverent understanding of who God is and where we stand in God is and where we stand in

relation to him.relation to him.

Our awareness of God at work Our awareness of God at work even in tragedy gives us a different even in tragedy gives us a different

way to see life and see pain. way to see life and see pain. It teaches us the difference It teaches us the difference

between what passes and what between what passes and what lasts. lasts.

Knowing God sustains us in our Knowing God sustains us in our darkest hours.darkest hours.

But knowing God also sustains us But knowing God also sustains us in daily life:in daily life:

It isn’t easy to be trustworthy, but It isn’t easy to be trustworthy, but God is there and sees that we can God is there and sees that we can

be trusted.be trusted.It isn’t convenient to be shrewd, but It isn’t convenient to be shrewd, but God sees our work and is honored God sees our work and is honored

by it.by it.

It may be tough to be generous, but It may be tough to be generous, but God calls us to share what we God calls us to share what we

have.have.

It’s not fun to be diligent, but we It’s not fun to be diligent, but we work to glorify our Maker.work to glorify our Maker.

It’s not easy to speak wisely and It’s not easy to speak wisely and kindly all the time, but God hears kindly all the time, but God hears

what we say.what we say.

One ship sails east, another westOne ship sails east, another westOn the self-same wind that blows.On the self-same wind that blows.

It’s the set of the sail It’s the set of the sail and not the galeand not the gale

That determines where each ship That determines where each ship goes. goes.

[Ella Wheeler Wilcox][Ella Wheeler Wilcox]