Monday, February 3, 2014

Discovering the Treasures of a godly woman Chapter 7

Chapter 7- A godly woman is Enterprising

Proverbs 31:14

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

The Picture

- what is God's priceless woman likened to in this verse?- A merchant ship
- what items did she procure on her shopping outings according to:
   verse 13- ( She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.)- Wool and flax
   verse 16- (She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.)- land
   verse 18- (She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.)- oil for lamp

Wisdom is personified as an enterprising woman-

What efforts do these verses picture?

Proverbs 9:1-2
"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table."- She prepared a feast

Proverbs 14:1 
"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."- She built her house.

Proverbs 24:3-4
"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."- She fills the house with precious items.

Proverbs 31:27
" She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."- she is always looking out for her family and is NOT lazy.

Her Provision

What kind of Cargo did the enterprising woman bring?- She brought wool, flax, food.

What is the definition of Enterprising?  Showing initiative and willingness to undertake new projects.

Her Enterprising Spirit

What energetic and enterprising qualities do you witness in the following women:

Rebekah- Genesis 24:15-20

"15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels."

Rebekah not only gave water to the servant but also gave to drink to the camels- she did this without being told or asked to do.

Rachel- Genesis 29:9

"And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them."

Rachel took care of her fathers sheep.

Ruth- Ruth 2:2-3 & 17-18

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed."

Ruth went to the fields to provide for food for her and Naomi.

*****Something to ponder*****

Do I have an enterprising Spirit?
Do I have love for others?
Do I have a heart of love?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to be an enterprising woman.  Help me to look for opportunities to show YOUR love to others.  Help me to be a good steward of what you have blessed us with.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen. 

1 comment:

Elizabeth said...

Love the insight on this! And love you too!