Perspective
( Ps. 128:3 ; John 15:1,5 ) Jesus described Himself as the vine because this vine symbolized life, refreshment and ministry. God underscores the woman and her strategic ministry in comparing her to a vine. In God's kind of family, a wife and mother must be more concerned about being than doing, more concerned about what she is than how she performs. Christian conduct is rooted in Christian character. Without Christ within, we cannot do a thing.
Hope
( Gen. 1:28 ; Gen. 2:18 ; Deut. 33:29 ; Ps. 25:9 ; Ps. 121:1-2 ) God gave a command to both the man and woman: woman is a partner in being fruitful and ruling the earth. Because of what woman is by divine creation, she is the very helper man needs to fulfill his God-given responsibilities in the world and in the home.
( John 15:8 ; Gal. 5:22-23 ; Prov. 31:30 ; 2 Cor. 12:9 ) A fruitful vine is a woman who fears the Lord. She is a God-centered person, and God is a powerful reality in her life. God is the motivating force, her strength, her hope, her counselor. The secret of her fruitfulness stems from her vital and deep relationship with God .Her sufficiency is from God, else she would burn out by doing and going, seeing motherhood as a duty rather than as a service and privilege to be used of God and accomplish His purposes in the family unit.
Change
( Prov. 31 ) Priorities are established here showing that a God-fearing wife and mother is a family-oriented person. She is utterly devoted to her family as her number one ministry. Her family is not neglected while she does other important things.
( Prov. 31:11-12,23,28 ; Gen. 2:18 ) She is also a husband-oriented person. She does not look to people or things for meaning rather than to God. She serves rather than being served, and ministers out of her fullness of her relationship with God rather than looking to be fulfilled.
( Prov. 31:10,29-30 ) A noble and excellent character is a consequence of a woman in commitment to and relationship with God, a woman who has established four priorities in her life:
| 1. her relationship with God; |
| 2. her ministry to her family; |
| 3. her development of a godly character; |
| 4. her expression of godly conduct toward other people in and out of the home. |
Work Out Your Salvation (Phil. 2:12-13)
BSAF for Prov. 31:10
Study the following verses about women, wives, mothers, fruit and fruitbearing. Write down how they apply to your life, and what do hey suggest about the privileges, responsibilities, role and value of women:
Gen. 1:26-28 ; Ex. 21:12 ; Josh. 16:3-6 , 2 Kings 4:8-10 ; Prov. 1:8-9 ; Prov. 6:20 ; Prov. 11:16 ; Prov. 12:4 ; Prov. 14:1 ; Prov. 18:22 ; Prov. 19:14 ; Prov. 20:20 ; Prov. 21:9,19 ; Prov. 23:22-25 ; Prov. 31:10 ; Prov. 31:11-12 ; Prov. 31:26 ; Prov. 31:28-31 ; Ezek. 24:16 ; Matt. 26:13,27 ; Matt. 26:55-56 ; Luke 1:30-38 ; Luke 2:36-38 ; Luke 8:3 ; Luke 10:42 ; John 15:1-16 ; John 20:11-18 ; Acts 1:14 ; Acts 2:17-18 ; Acts 9:36-39 ; Acts 16:14-15 ; Acts 21:9 ; Rom. 16:1-2 ; Rom. 16:3,6 ; Rom. 14-15 ; 1 Cor. 7:2-5 ; Eph. 5:22-24,33 ; Phil. 4:3 ; 1 Tim. 5:1-2 ; 1 Tim. 5:9-14 2 Tim. 1:5 ; 2 Tim. 3:15 ; Titus 3:2-5 ; 1 Pet. 3:1-6 .
Reflect on all you have studied and record to the best of your ability the most important overall impression you have received about being a fulfilled and fulfilling woman.