What can we learn from the Proverbs 31 woman as we see her in verse sixteen?

“She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.”

The Virtuous Woman is Discerning.

She is not impetuous, heedlessly making a purchase without researching and considering the options. Once the field is hers, she puts her skills to good use by making it productive.

Discernment is defined as having keen insight or good judgement. As I seek to emulate this woman, I see three questions she may have considered as she exercised discernment in her decisions.

1. Is the field worth the price that is being asked? In the same manner, as I make decisions in life, I must decide if the cost I am being asked to pay (be it monetarily or time wise) is worth what I will receive in return.
2. Will it be right for my purpose? Obviously she sought to plant a vineyard, so she had to determine if it was even possible to grow grapes in this location. As for me, I should ensure that the activities I pursue lead me to my ultimate purpose – to know and love God more.
3. Can I use this to improve myself and my family? I also must seek to use any abilities God has given me to help me reach the goals I have set personally as well as for my family.

What tips do you have for practicing discernment?

Read previous posts in this series about the virtuous woman here.

Photo courtesy public domain pictures.

You will enter heaven as fully by grace as if you had never lived a Godly life nor had practiced a single virtue. ~ From the book Spiritual Parenting by C.H Spurgeon

The grace of God.

I don’t deserve it, can’t buy it, could never earn it.

How grateful I am for His grace; it provided my salvation, carries me through each trial and is promised to me for all that lies ahead.

New Grace ~ Lyrics by Tom Hayes

Today we find that the Proverbs 31 woman starts her day at an early hour!

Verse 15 says, “She riseth also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.”

The Virtuous Woman is Industrious.

You won’t call this lady’s house at 9:00 A.M. and find her still in bed! I would say that she has a plan for each day and knows that in order for her home to run smoothly, she needs to put that plan into action early.

She ensures that members of her household are prepared for the day. I find it interesting that both verses fourteen and fifteen mention meeting the physical needs of her family, particularly in the area of food. It speaks to me of the importance of providing nutritious meals for our families.

I am a morning person which means that this attribute comes a bit more naturally to me than most of the other traits we have studied! However, I want to improve in making the best use of my time, that I might be diligent in accomplishing what I need to for my family.

Do you have any tips for getting an early start to the day?

Read previous posts in this series on the virtuous woman here.

Thank you, Lord, that it didn’t rain. It was warm and humid, but not miserable.

Thank you for a husband who knows about outdoorsy things – like rowing a boat. If it was up to me, we’d still be paddling around in circles.

Thank you that I was the one who unknowingly stepped in a mound of fire ants – and that it wasn’t the girls. Our outing would still have been memorable, but for an unpleasant reason.

Thank you for the beauty of your creation – the swamp filled with cypress trees, the brightly-colored butterflies, the squawking parrot who entertained us all with his antics.

Thank you for our children; it’s because we desire interesting experiences for them that we make the effort to plan family activities.

And because they remembered to say “thank you” for the outing, I wanted to make sure I did the same.

Find others giving thanks at Gratituesday hosted by Heavenly Homemakers.

Our once-a-week study of the virtuous woman brings us today to the fourteenth verse of Proverbs 31: “She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.”

Just as traders or storekeepers search high and low to bring their customers the best products they can find, so this Proverbs 31 woman seeks to provide the same for her household.

In our study of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 we have reached the thirteenth verse: “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.”

The Virtuous Woman is Diligent.

The lady of whom we read could never be portrayed as lazy. Here we are told that she seeks wool and flax. She goes about the business of gathering what she needs for her family; she is not waiting for someone to bring things to her.

She works, completing the tasks set before her with steady effort, persevering through difficulties that may arise. What is her attitude about all that she must accomplish? She works willingly. Ah, there is much to be learned here. She doesn’t complain to her family or friends about all that she has to do. She accepts her responsibilities and goes about fulfilling them with a servant’s heart.

She works with her hands. Our hands minister in so many ways to our families! From kneading bread to peeling potatoes, folding laundry to washing dishes, brushing a child’s hair to mending a pair of pants, the hands of a wife and mother serve each family member.

This week may I follow her example, working diligently with a cheerful spirit, using my hands to meet the needs of my family and others around me.

A Bible verse that always brings conviction to my heart is Proverbs 31:26 which says, in describing the virtuous woman, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

What a shame it would be if I were oblivious to all that was going on around me!

Moses tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy 29:4, “Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.” The dictionary definition of perceive is “To become aware of directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing….”

In another lovely reminder of the passing of time, I went to my doctor’s office last week for my annual checkup. As I sat in the waiting room, I scanned a newspaper article about young, successful business men and women. Each was asked to give a piece of advice that he or she had found helpful. The following saying caused me to put down the paper and meditate on it’s words.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” Erma Bombeck

How ironic that on that very day I had used another quote from Bombeck in my blog post. As I considered her words, I questioned how I was doing with the talent that God has given me. Am I daily seeking to use it (or them) in the way God would intend?

Each season of life offers a different challenge and, I believe, a unique opportunity to make use of our gifts. Am I to be encouraging someone else through a thoughtful note, serving in a particular ministry at church, doing outreach in the community? Especially as a wife and mother, am I using the abilities I have been given to build a home that would be pleasing to God?

Whatever my talents, I pray that I will use each of them in a way that would be pleasing to God and accomplish the work that He has set for me to do. Today may I unwrap the talent with which I’ve been blessed and use it for His glory.

Visit Tuesdays Unwrapped hosted by Chatting at the Sky.