Proverbs 31:16-20

hand out cards for duty lists – read out of the mind of christ (duty section)

give the ladies 3 or 4 minutes to fill them out...

big picture: you are a hero. everything you do matters. [write]

also write verses for week – proverbs 31:16-20

have someone read verses out loud

she considers a field and buys it;
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

she girds herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.

she senses that her gain is good;
her lamp does not go out at night.

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

she extends her hand to the poor,
and she stretches out her hands to the needy.

(read then here in NIV)

explain first four verses – alphabet woman! - paint a picture.

intro: what did she do last week? (ask class)

(works in delight, brings food, feeds the house, gets up early)

how did she do it?

what is her motivation?

[16] always considering, looking around, using her resources (money in this case) to leverage gain.

Who are her profits benefiting?

Note that when she profits, she turns around and invests again.

This is the stuff that makes her husband trust her

what are your resources? (tell them to turn the card over)

you might think only of your lacks, but take a minute to think

about what you have been given...

it may not be money, but time, interest in others, compassion

give 2-3 minutes to fill out resource list

[17] she sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks

explain girds – used figuratively also in 1 peter 1:12

strength: in the abstract, what does this mean? Mental strength.

From what source?

literal/physical: makes her arms strong – is this a normal view of women?

Not feminism in the anti-biblical sense, but service to others doesn't contradict submission, but is SO different from

the view of a wife who is helpless

THIS WOMAN IS ANYTHING BUT HELPLESS...

are you?

Tell story about debbie mitchell and her response to the demands of three small boys -

feisty, joyful determination.

[18] she senses that her gain is good – her lamp stays on late

she sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night

psalm 34:8 – 'taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him'

tell about 1 sam. 14 briefly (the honey vow of saul)

this is the meaning/common translation of the hebrew for 'senses'

like tasting victory?

in this case, tasting the reward of a correctly ordered life, and it keeps her going...

[19] in her hand she holds the distaff, and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

make it modern two ways: sewing, and then target and the mall

a return to the picture of a wise woman doing what NEEDS to be done.

she's meeting the need for her family/household for clothing

side note: she probably didn't do this alone -

she had help, and so should you.

back out to an eternal perspective -

[20] opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy

because she is thinking of God first, she has a constant perspective on the purpose of her work

it allows her to be generous.

summary – proverbs 14:1

the wise woman builds her house,

but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Alphabet woman isn't superwoman.

We see snapshots of her life, virtuous traits and pursuits.

She does her husband GOOD every day, but we don't know that she stays up late and rises before dawn daily.

She is generous, hard-working.

Wisdom dictates that we maintain an eternal perspective. she can delight in mundane tasks because she understands who god is and the

end of life.

Motivation is what matters, motivation that you follow through on.

Break into groups for discussion – 10 minutes (10:25-10:35)

duties & resources, where we are, and what our attitude is and should be

conclusion: fill in the blank on the cover of the handout -

there are a smattering of traits that describe her -

what do you most desire described you?

PRAY – for God to instill these attitudes.xx