Proverbs 31 Wife – The Transformed Wife

The Proverb’s 31 Woman’s Servants – The Transformed Wife

THE PROVERB’S 31 WOMAN’S SERVANTS

 February 3, 2021  Lori Alexander

“The Proverbs 31 Woman was a career woman! After all, she had servants and these servants watched her children so she could have a career. Besides, these servants are career women. There were absolutely career women back in biblical days!” Yes, the modern woman wants to justify having a career that keeps her away from home all day long, putting her children in day care, and working for a boss, so they scour God’s Word and make up women who are like this.

Here’s the verse they use to justify the Proverb’s 31 woman having servants. “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens” (Proverbs 31:15). According to the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, maidens are “young women or virgins.” Therefore, they were most likely unmarried or without children. They were probably both. They helped the Proverbs 31 woman with household chores.

We must remember that back then, there were no refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, running water, indoor plumbing, toilets, dishwashers, toasters, electricity, heating at the flip of a switch, and so on. These are all our “servants” or maidens nowadays. There was a LOT more to running a home before the industrial revolution. Women had to work hard in their homes to keep it going.

The reason these maidens didn’t have children is because there was no birth control. Once a woman married, she had children, if she was able, and had to stay home with her children. These maidens were being trained how to be good keepers at home while they worked for the Proverbs 31 woman. As soon as they married, they went home to care for their own homes. If I was to guess, all of the “maidens” that worked for the Proverb’s 31 woman were not married, since it took so much to run a home back then. If they were married, they would need to be tending to their own homes.

We all are blessed to have these servants or “maidens” with modern technology. A lot of our work is simply at the flip of a switch! Housework takes a lot less physical labor than it did back in biblical days. There was no way for a woman with a family to put her children in day care (there were none), go to work in an office building or factory (there were no factories where she could have made clothing), and work for a boss.  She was known for looking well to the ways of her household and not eating the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27). She was a keeper at home.

It’s foolhardy for women to take women from Scripture to justify their lifestyles. God wants women at home caring for their husbands, children, and home. This is the safest place for women and children. Their children need them full time. Take God’s commands to us as is, and don’t try to twist them to say something they are not. The best place to be is in the center of God’s will. If you can’t come home full time yet, keep asking the Lord to provide a way. He wants you home, and with Him nothing is impossible!

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

THE BREAD OF IDLENESS

 February 10, 2021  Lori Alexander The Bread of Idleness – The Transformed Wife

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“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:27)

From this verse, we learn that this woman was busy in her home and did not indulge in idleness.

Idleness means “Aversion to labor; reluctance to exertion either of body or mind; laziness; sloth; sulggishness.”

Did you know that part of Sodom and Gomorrah’s downfall was laziness? “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49).

America has an “abundance of idleness” because of our “fulness of bread.” Welfare has created an abundance of idleness. God’s Word tells us that those who don’t work, don’t eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Welfare encourages people to not work so they become idle. Women receive more money from the government (tax payers) by not being married or having a husband who doesn’t work. This is why big government is never the answer to culture’s problems.

Growing Mums shared this wisdom recently on Facebook: “I know the ‘hot mess mom’ is a popular acceptance in our culture but God calls us to take care of our households and our family- most importantly as though unto the Lord! (Proverbs 31:27, Colossians 3:23.) Our home IS our ministry! Of course sickness, new baby, et. can get us behind at times but don’t let those small seasons become your new normal. Be diligent, and consciously aim to keep order in your household! If busyness is a problem, prioritize! If laziness is a problem, repent and ask God for the grace to push through the desires of your flesh and to do as He has called us all to as mothers and wives all to the glory of Him.”

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). As homemakers, you must not spend our days scrolling through social media or watching TV. Your children need you to be there, not distracted by things that don’t matter. They need your instruction, discipline, affection, attention, training, and discipling. They need you! They need you to pay attention to them when they speak. When you’re working around the home, let them help you. As they see your example of working hard, it will become second nature to them.

Laziness and idleness are easy and of the flesh, but they are destructive. Discipline yourself and learn to be a hard worker at home. If your mother taught you to do this, you are blessed! If she didn’t, you have the Spirit working mightily within you and are told that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! Find a workable schedule for you, then consistently do it as unto the Lord. Your home is your workplace given to you by the Lord, and it’s good!

You don’t need to stay up on all of the bad news of the day. In fact, try to stay away from it and dwell on the good and lovely instead! Pray for our leaders and our country, and then trust God with your family. Work is a great way to forget worrying! Work is good for us. We were created to work, so work heartily, dear women.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs 10:4Save