[proverbs 31:10-15]


standing in line at heb....relate to women (working, mothers, grandmothers, etc)

***go home a hero. [WRITE]

what is a heroic woman in the modern day?

wisdom. proverbs. women's retreat speaker regarding lightheartedness...

4 weeks in proverbs 31 -

what it said to them

what it means

what it says to us (5 min)


read text – Proverbs 31:10-15


An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.


The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.


She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.


rundown on proverbs – 'i know this is review for some of you, but it helps us remember'


wisdom. proverbs 9:10

word pictures. proverbs 9:1-6 (wisdom as a woman)

memorable. talk about the acrostic of these last verses -

therefore not ordered, memory, and not a command

not!!!! an epistle.


apply this: read proverbs 22:1

ask them what it means?/what is the bible trying to teach?

everyone knows this. that's why it's called proverbial wisdom

there are truths in proverbs 31 that we all need to know. (5 min)


'everyone know that, but not everyone knows this'


why? cultural trends (feminism), distance from bible times and culture, and lack of wisdom in general.


(10 min not incl. class partic.)


WRITE [proverbs 31:10-15]


  1. an excellent wife is priceless


read v. 10

ask – from the perspective of rich or poor? explain the difference

can't be bought (what? wisdom.)

totally out of reach cost wise if poor, but not a money issue.

conclusion – priceless.

'a diamond is forever' – really?


eternal perspective


  1. an excellent wife does good & brings gain


key words: trust, no lack of gain, good, NOT evil.

how long? all the days of her life.

what are the implications of this? flesh it out for me.

(when she doesn't feel like it)

(long-term, trust built on experience, strong character)



  1. an excellent wife _______________________ YOU TELL ME

read verses again.

ask them to note attitudes.

explain wool & flax, station in life as consumer (not aggie) but reiterate that this is a picture, not a command to live near lots of other people, be rich, etc.)

explain maidens

dwell for a while on the commitment to doing good that must embody every day

or perhaps the attitude that this section fleshes out

illustrate contrast of good vs. bad attitude in same work

col. 3:23-24

prov. 17:1 – wow.


[WRITE] who is she? delight in work, displine, responsible, others-centered, has great worth, is trusted, does good to those close to her.


if time, discuss...

first, redefining evaluation of ourselves from eternal rather than material

perspective.

second, our tendency to excuse meanness, etc. in our families, when this passage and the rest of scripture would encourage us to pursue thoroughness in godly behavior.



redefining heroism in the modern day. for you. and me. an inward-looking