[proverbs 31:26-31]

in trying to analyze ourselves, we often start by looking at us.

to begin, we must start by looking first at God.

go home a hero. are you a hero?

you are a hero. everything you do matters.

manage wisely. trust God. smile at the future.

clothe yourself. clothe others.

introduction – summary of all we've studied

26-27 right attitude, right actions

28-31 summary & principles

write: are you a hero?

pray, then read text.

She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

***heart of the passage (all 22 verses)....

a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised

another translation:

fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised. (basic english)

what does this mean?

definition: contrasted to what?

define charm and beauty (not 'inward' here, but literal)

then what is it? psalm 90:12

other ideas about fearing god? how does it show? where does it start?

go back to beginning of verses:

26 & 27 are a conclusion of all that came before

26: inward wisdom (attitude)

proverbs 17:1

psalm 141:3

proverbs 21:23

27: wisdom played out (action)

then the assessment of this woman by those closest!!! to her...(read 28-29)

...and she passes. (pause) do you?

*unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.

she receives praise from husband and children, and then v. 31 adds to the reward (with a should...)

that she should enjoy the product of her labor, and her works should bring her praise

this is not an if-then statement. proverbs 31 is written like this:

if there were an excellent wife, this is what she would be like,

and this is what would happen to her and what she would receive.

conclusion of this series:

CHART on the board – fear of the Lord/others-centered attitude/what alphabet woman does/draw wiggly line...what you do

this is not about being a stepford wife (explain illustration), but about living OUT wisdom that you possess.

encourage them to copy flow chart onto back of handout, with applications that will help THEM with their specific struggles, duties, areas of weakness in action and thought.