Bible Study - Re-Finance (4) - Manage Money Diligently - Proverbs 31:13-21 - August 7, 2016

Bible Study – Re-Finance (4) – Manage Money Diligently – August 7, 2016

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Re-Finance: Ancient Wisdom for Money Management.”

Our focus scripture is Proverbs 31:13-21.

Act responsibly with what GOD has given you.

We saw in last week’s lesson that Wisdom in Hebrew is a feminine noun, thus referred to as “she” in some verses. This is a thought to consider as we study this lesson, is the woman referred to in our focus scripture an actual woman or does woman refer to wisdom and can apply to either gender?

Clearly this proverb emphasizes the importance of not being a slacker and the reward of planning, organization, intelligent use of resources, application without hesitation, hard work and so much more. Let’s explore!

Proverbs 31 is a poem of wisdom. It is an acrostic poem, which means as written in Hebrew that each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. As an example, if it had been written in English then the first letter of the first verse would have been “A” and the first letter of the second verse would have been “B” and so forth.

Proverbs 31 reflects the sayings of King Lemuel in an oracle his mother taught him. We do not know much about King Lemuel. His mother was giving him wise instructions regarding the ideal wife.

Proverbs 31:10-12:

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Was this one woman or a portrait of the ideal woman? It is likely a portrait of the ideal woman which I think is applicable to either gender. The poem of wisdom contains good sound advice and instruction for life application. The person practicing these principles is not a slacker as we studied in last week’s lesson but one who is motivated, a self-starter, well organized, shows the way, is a leader and the list goes on.

This person has a good knowledge base upon which to build as noted in verse 13. She has been well trained in the attributes she needs to deal with life as we note that “she selects wool and flax” and then she knows what to do with these raw materials. She increases their value by turning them into useful products. She is a visionary that turns her visions into reality.

Let’s read Proverbs 31:13-15:

13 She selects wool and flax and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from far away.

15 She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and portions for her servants.

This ideal person or she knows how to select good materials and converts them into useful products. She does not have to depend upon imports for her to have what is needed. She makes her own products during the time it would take for the merchant ships to bring them to her. Plus, what she makes is exactly what she needs, fits those for whom she is making them, saves money because each handler of the goods coming via merchants has a markup, plus those for whom she is making her products get to use them without having to wait on a ship or someone else to bring them to her.

But in order to accomplish these needs she has to be diligent in her work. She plans, organizes and gets up before anyone else to get done what needs to be done. She is no slacker.

She has servants but she is the example for her servants and her household to follow. She directs the activities of her household and the servants in her household. She is a good delegator. She delegates and when she does it is not resented because she is working as hard as or harder than those she is managing. The balance in her life suggests that she understands the needs of others and is not overbearing. Yet, she does not put up with goofing off and can spot such an attitude in a heartbeat. She will step in and say take a break when someone under her responsibility needs a break. Balance is the key. As the old adage states, “an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work.”

She is intelligent because she has paid attention to those who make wise decisions. She has likely asked questions of those who are good role models. She has accepted the wise and rejected the foolish. She is focused as we read on.

List below and copied from Herschel Hobbs Commentary, summer 2016, page 103, LifeWay, Nashville, TN are some lasting truths from Proverbs 31:13-15:

[We are to be enterprising, creative, and industrious with the assets the LORD gives to us.

We have an obligation to use our assets to provide for our families.

Working to provide for those entrusted to our care is to be considered a blessed privilege, not a laborious obligation.]

This last statement is a challenge to all leaders and entrepreneurs to run the business the LORD has entrusted them efficiently. It may mean making hard decisions when the market or times get tough. Would those in-charge be willing to take less in order to keep the business they have been entrusted to run in order to keep their employees working? Some have done this.

Let’s read Proverbs 31:16-17:

16 She evaluates a field and buys it; she plants a vineyard with her earnings.

17 She draws on her strength and reveals that her arms are strong.

The attributes of this ideal person highlights the need for knowing how to evaluate a number of areas necessary for living and managing a household. She knows how to spot a good purchase when she sees it. She evaluates the opportunity and makes the purchase. She sees the potential for her purchase. It could be to flip the land and use the profit to plant a vineyard on land she already has or to use her purchase and plant a vineyard. What she has she turns a profit.

She is willing to do what is necessary to turn her purchase into something that is prosperous because she is not afraid of hard work.

List below and copied from Herschel Hobbs Commentary, summer 2016, page 104, LifeWay, Nashville, TN are some lasting truths from Proverbs 31:16-17:

[Our purchases need to be evaluated in terms of prudence, purpose, and potential – not whim, envy, or peer pressure.

Wise investments or purchases are those that have potential to be productive and to provide for our future.

We are to prepare ourselves for our work by strengthening ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually so we can give our best to its accomplishments.]

Let’s read Proverbs 31:18-21:

18 She sees that her profits are good, and her lamp never goes out at night.

She manages the things under her control. She is a self-starter and a hard worker. She manages what she has under her authority.

19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff, and her hands hold the spindle.

She spins wool and flax, raw materials, into useful items. She adds value to the things under her control. Yet, her success and focus has not resulted in her having a hard heart, as we read in our next verse.

20 Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy.

What she produces reaches beyond her needs and the needs of her family and servants but to those who are poor and needy. With the same diligence she approaches work; she also reaches out to the poor and needy. This character reflects her heart toward fellow humans and her relationship with GOD.

21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all in her household are doubly clothed.

Her diligence, planning and organization reflects the fact that she does not have to frantically deal with the unexpected e.g. when the weather suddenly changes she has it covered. Pre-planning is a good thing. She is prepared for the rainy days when they come.

List below and copied from Herschel Hobbs Commentary, summer 2016, page 106, LifeWay, Nashville, TN are some lasting truths from Proverbs 31:18-21:

[We are to use our assets in ways that we find pleasing, not in a vain way, but because we know we have given our best.

We are to look for ways to use our gifts and abilities to bless our families.

As we are able and have opportunity, we are to extend our effort beyond our households to the community by ministering to others at their point of need.]

What are some unexpected things that can come along and how can we be prepared for them?

Considering the wisdom expressed in the wisdom poem, what have we learned? What do we need to do to put what we have learned into action? Can we use this wisdom poem to teach our children, grandchildren and others? Do we practice these principles in our lives?

So what does this have to do with being a Christian? JESUS said it well when HE tells those who have placed their faith in HIM as the Messiah that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Christians are to reflect HIM is their lifestyle. This can only be accomplished by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and empower our lives as Christians. All Christians are sinners saved by GOD’S love and HIS grace. All that we do must reflect HIM in our lifestyle – how we manage our homes, finances, leisure time and our careers. We are to work as unto the LORD and reflect HIM. I witnessed this in a man who did some work for us recently. He had an amazing work ethic. How are we viewed by others? What we do often speaks louder than what we say. May the words of our mouths match our hearts!

Have you asked CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and for HIM to come into your life? Keep in mind that religion is man-made whereas being a Christian is CHRIST in you. HE gave HIS sinless life just for you to be forgiven of yours sins and to be born anew into GOD’S family through the miracle of rebirth in your spirit. The sin barrier was broken by HIS shed blood which paid the price for the original sin and opened the path from GOD to mankind and vice versa. GOD made every human with the freewill to choose. We are upon earth not by chance but by design. Where were we before we were conceived? I contend that we were in the heart and mind of GOD as the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:4:

4 for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love

All are chosen but it is up to us to accept. The choice is yours and mine to make. Will you accept HIS invitation to become HIS Son or Daughter by accepting JESUS as your Savior? In doing so, your will be born-again in your spirit into GOD’S Family through the miracle of spiritual rebirth and the eternal life GOD intended for all is restored. There is but one way and JESUS said it best in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Satan would have us to believe there are many ways to GOD. Be wise and pay attention to what GOD’S Only Son had to say. Accept CHRIST as your Savior now and experience the miracle of rebirth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Who confirms the fact that you have been born anew into GOD’S family.

Godspeed as you grow Spiritually and learn of HIM through an intimate, loving, dynamic, personal relationship. Just as a new born person must be fed and nurtured to grow into an adult, so will you as a child of GOD. Study GOD’S Word, the Bible and talk to HIM, prayer, and put into action what HE teaches you. Ask HIM to help you find a church where you can be fed the Spiritual food you need to grow Spiritually. You are now grafted into the true vine as JESUS taught in John, Chapter 15. Study the Gospel of John. 

Blessings!!!