Archive for July, 2008

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. … She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. (Proverbs 31:21-22, 24)

This part of her description shows us more about the kind of work she does. We already knew about her wool and flax and about her weaving it into cloth. Here we go again. So why do we need our faces rubbed in it some more?

This part adds quality. She doesn’t just get by. She makes quality cloth so she doesn’t need to be afraid of the snow. Her family will be warm. She makes bed coverings that will keep them warm at night. And her work is of such quality that those looking for merchandise to sell come to her.

In those days, scarlet and purple were special. She didn’t just get by and clothe her family. She added special little touches like color. And linen was an up-scale fabric, too. This whole piece adds up to a well cared for family and more …

Caring for physical needs is necessary. She did the kinds of little things that made each person feel special – to let them know they were in her thoughts. And that’s timeless!

There isn’t anything in the Bible about voting. So it provides me with no how-to advice. Lots of what’s important to God and how to live that I can apply to my decision. But no how-to.

Abortion is a big issue with Christians. Since we’re told explicitly not to murder, that one’s easy! But politicians say what will get them elected. So, is it enough of a reason to vote for someone.

The last pro-life person I voted for had an idea to help endanger species – organize a hunt of endangered species animals and give the money raised to help endangered species. He has bullied our enemies and allies alike. He declared war on a country that didn’t attack us. He has ok’d spying on his own people. He has kept people for years without trial and ok’d torture as a questioning “technique” – leaving us with nothing to stand on when others ignore the Geneva Convention, too. Then there’s the wall of safeguards put up after the Depression that was dismantled on his watch – leading to this mortgage crisis. And this oilman has allowed record profits for oil companies while squashing  talk of global warming and alternative energy. And he has been very slow to care of his own people during crises like Katrina and even the recent tornadoes and flooding.

I’ve been listening to Obama. I don’t agree with alot of the Democratic platform, but I like alot of what he says and the way he handles himself under all the pressure. The things he says remind me of Lincoln, Kennedy and Reagan. We have fallen so far as a nation. He talks about rebuilding – rebuilding our reputation in the world and with each other.

There are 98 days left until the election. Pro-life is important, but I wonder, is it enough?

I think about those Mayflower folks and I’m in awe. What they took on was huge. These weren’t farm people – they were city people.

They were living in England when their beliefs caused persecution, jail and death. They moved to Holland where they prospered – but worried about the influences on their children. They chose to go to a place where they would be the only influence. A good thought but …

That choice took them out of everything they knew.  Even their pastor had to stay behind in Holland.  After a sea voyage that put their lives in danger they landed in the wrong place (they were headed for Virginia). Not only were there no cities – there were no houses. No shops. Nothing. Half of them died that first winter.

I wonder if they were so busy just surviving that they neglected to pass their faith on the way they wanted to. Maybe they just didn’t have time for all the “whys” that little people ask.

I know children learn from example. They learn things from our example that we wish they didn’t! But, especially with faith, it takes more than watching actions. They need to understand the reasoning, too.

It’s important to talk about it – about why you do a thing. Thinking your thoughts out loud. Letting them hear you discuss decisions as you make them.

That’s the best way for children to understand how to do it themselves. It’s a living example of faith and truth applied to life.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

I was reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick recently. We hear a lot about the Pilgrims’ faith and courage that led them first to Holland and then, because they feared the influences on their children, to America.

But the next generation was very different.

By 1660 church membership was so low that ” … as Governor Bradford had complained, the spiritual life of Plymouth had declined to the point that God must one day show his displeasure. … Instead of the afterlife, it was the matierial rewards of this life that increasingly became the focus of the Pilgrims’ children and grandchildren.” (Mayflower, p.198)

The Pilgrims didn’t really understand the Indians, but they tried. They tried to treat them with respect and worked to live together in peace. Edward Winslow even saved an Indian chief’s life. His son, Josiah, did just the opposite. Among other things, he perverted English law in order to steal land from the Indians. Some innocent Indians were sentenced to death. Indian chiefs were killed. When they had had enough and King Phillip’s War broke out thousands of Indians died. Those who survived the war were sold as slaves to Jamaica – where most of them died.

This terrible part of the story isn’t told very often.

I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I think we assume that our children will come to faith and have the same values we do.

But it doesn’t just happen. Those Pilgrims were good people who cared about their children. It wasn’t enough. Their example wasn’t enough. Just sitting under the teaching in church wasn’t enough.

It takes a lot of work to prepare a child to go out on their own. We think about helping them learn to cook, balance a checkbook, any number of things like that. It seems to me that we need to do the same thing with faith.

They need to understand that faith is important.
They need to know that they can’t get by on our faith – they have to have their own.
They need to know the truth and then how to use that truth.
They need to learn to make godly decisions.
They need to  know the Bible so well that verses come to mind when they are tempted (like Jesus in the wilderness).

Lord, bless our parenting and touch the hearts of the next generations!

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:30-31)

We’re at the end. Here is where Lemuel’s mother summarizes everything she’s said.

Our society has us trained to believe that it’s the outside of a person that’s important – the charm. This verse says that charm is deceitful.

That word deceitful can also mean disappointment or falsehood. We’ve all operated as if that new haircut or those new shoes will make the difference. But did it? When you think about it the idea is false. And the thing itself is always a disappointment.

The word vain can also be translated as vapor or breath. It doesn’t last.  It fades when the sun hits it.

BUT… The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Not her clothes, her hair, her wrinkle-less face. A woman who respects and worships the Lord grows in beauty – on the inside. The kind of beauty that doesn’t fade. That people recognize and want to be around.

That kind of woman produces fruit/works that will praise her. I don’t usually think of my work praising me. There are just things that I do. But, as I think about it, the things I do build a reputation. A reputation both for me and my Lord.

This woman trusts the Lord, makes good use of what He’s given her and treats others well. Pretty good reputation I’d say!

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:27-29)

It may not look like it a first glance, but we’ve got more army pictures here.

Looks well can also be translated keeps watch. And ways can also mean traveling company. So, when Lemuel’s mother said that this wife looks after the ways of her household, she was painting a picture of someone who guards her family even to the way they go and who they go with.

She doesn’t just meet physical needs – clothing and food. She’s on guard. She keeps watch – guarding them from evil as well. That’s not to say that nothing will touch them. We know that’s not true. Living in a broken world means that some of that brokenness is bound to touch us. But she is on guard to keep her family as safe as she can. Not eating the bread of idleness tells us that she doesn’t stop.  She stays on guard.

And she gets what we all hope for! Her children rise up and call her blessed. Notice there’s no time frame given. Her children may be grown and have children of their own before she hears it! But she hears it.

Her husband, too, he praises her. And the word excellently is that same word used in the beginning. It means strength, efficiency and army.  That word excellent is used of armies – when they are the best kind of army – courageous, noble, honorable and fighting for right. He recognizes what she’s done but more than that. He recognizes her character.

I read recently that modern conveniences have actually made more work for us – because they mean that more is expected from us all the time. We look at the things this wife does and it’s overwhelming because we imagine adding those same things to our already full schedule.  In that time period those were the things that had to be done and a lot of what we do now just never even entered the picture – there wasn’t time for them.

This lady isn’t praised just for doing the things listed here. She’s praised more for her attitude and character. Look at some of what we’ve seen: she’s trustworthy, she does good and not evil, works with delight, helps the poor, strength and dignity are her clothing and kindness is on her tongue. Those are all things we can cultivate, too.

The stuff we do is important, but it’s who we are that makes us excellent.

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:23, 25-26)

What she does affect her husband’s reputation? Our society wants us to think of each part of a couple as a separate entity. Own life. Own decisions. Own bank accounts even. But in reality we often judge one spouse by the other. We assume that one spouse causes the actions of another. Or at least approves of them.

Elders at the gate isn’t a picture of old-timers sitting on the porch. Elders used to sit at the gates and people would come to them to judge their disputes. Here, this lady’s husband is respected and sits with the elders. We don’t know anything about her husband’s character – except that his choice of a wife was good. And he has the confidence to give her the freedom to use her talents. The way the verse is written gives the impression that that’s enough to make him respected in his community.

Then we see strength and dignity are her clothing. Strength can be translated as might, power, or fortress/stronghold. And the word dignity can be might or majesty. We’re back to the army imagery.

I don’t think this is the strength of a weightlifter. It has more to do with character. When I think of the ideal image of a soldier, I think more of things like courage, confidence and standing for right. These are the things that she wears. She stands firm and prepared for the time to come.

And she teaches. Kindness can also be translated as goodness or faithfulness. She teaches what she lives.

What kind of a difference would it make in those around us if we opened our mouths with wisdom and kindness came out?