Post by alan4jc on Jul 5, 2007 16:09:40 GMT -5
This was written by my dear sister in Christ on her blog and I thought it was very refreshing. Perhaps some of the men here would want to share it with the wives, moms, sisters etc. in their lives.
04 July 2007
Gentle Might
“The woman of folly is boisterous and rebellious, her feet do not remain at home.” Proverbs 9:13
In the book of Proverbs, the woman of folly is compared and contrasted with wisdom. A Christian woman should be wise and not a woman of folly. Today the characteristics of the woman of folly are promoted and exalted, while the characteristics of biblical womanhood are denigrated and despised. This is seen in the marked contempt for a woman’s role in keeping a home, helping a husband, training up children in the fear of the Lord, and being a humble-hearted servant. It is seen in our culture’s fascination with physical beauty and immodesty and unchasteness. It is seen in the way women are trained in conduct and demeanor.
Proverbs 9:13 says that “the woman of folly is boisterous.” Aggressiveness, forwardness, giddiness, and boisterousness are expected and encouraged in women today. Being loud and tomboyish is considered candid, genuine, and authentic. Pushing your ideas and agenda and usurping men’s roles is encouraged. Being forward and outspoken is considered strength. However the biblical guidelines for a woman are diametrically opposed to this worldly view of womanhood!
Imperishable and Precious
Did you know there is a biblical characteristic that is precious in the sight of God? Think about that phrase for a moment—precious in the sight of God! This must be awfully important!
"Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.” (Philippians 4:5)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness….” (Galatians 5:22-23)
This is not the boisterous woman of folly! The gentle and quiet woman of God possesses something imperishable! She has a lasting and enduring quality in her life as opposed to simple charm and beauty, which are fleeting (Proverbs 31:30). Her gentle and quiet spirit comes from her hidden person of the heart—her life hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3)—and the fruit of that hidden life is precious to God. Women of God, cultivate gentleness! This quiet spirit is imperishable and of great price (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).
True Strength
Christians should be strong in the Lord! And that means women of God should be strong!
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.” (Proverbs 31:25)
But what is strength? Now again, the world would tell us that a very visible and aggressive agenda is strength, that vying with men is greatness. Is this true?
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
Strength and might are found in the Lord. We are told to put on His full armor that we may stand firm against the devil. Ephesians 6 continues in detail about various parts of our armor. I want to focus on two phrases:
“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth….” (v. 14)
“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (v. 17)
Two of our weapons are truth and the word of God. We can fight great battles with the word of God! And what a weapon it is—living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)! God’s word has several clear commands specifically for women. We must know what the word of God says if we are to fight with it:
“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
These are verses that grate terribly on many women! We attempt to explain them away and to rationalize not obeying them. But remember, the word of God is our sword of the Spirit. These verses are part of the word of God, and we can fight the devil with them! Fight hard against the devil! Fight him with whole-hearted obedience to the truth of the word of God!
The next verse shows the godly woman's alternative to the second part of the Proverbs 7:11 verse--"her feet do not remain at home." This verse also demonstrates how obedience can be a weapon against the enemy:
“[The older women] may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” (Titus 2:4-5)
This blueprint for a Christian woman’s job shows quiet, hidden work. Loving children, helping a husband, and working at home all fit in with the gentle and quiet spirit of 1 Peter 3:4. But notice very carefully what happens when women do not obey these verses: the word of God is dishonored! I like the King James Version best here “that the word of God be not blasphemed”! The devil would like nothing better than for the word of God to be blasphemed. We must not assist him in his wicked wiles by rebellion (Proverbs 7:11 again) and disobedience!
Stand in Might and Fight!
Women of God, stand strong the Lord and in the strength of His might! Your strength is in what is not seen in your life and demeanor—in resistance to the siren song of the loud and boisterous woman of folly. It is strength in the hidden person of the heart. It is strength in quietness and gentleness of spirit. It is strength in being a humble servant (Philippians 2:5-7) and a helper of others. It is strength in believing God’s word enough to obey it. It is strength in girding yourself with the truth of the word of God (John 17:17). It is gentle might!
Michelle Shook
04 July 2007
Gentle Might
“The woman of folly is boisterous and rebellious, her feet do not remain at home.” Proverbs 9:13
In the book of Proverbs, the woman of folly is compared and contrasted with wisdom. A Christian woman should be wise and not a woman of folly. Today the characteristics of the woman of folly are promoted and exalted, while the characteristics of biblical womanhood are denigrated and despised. This is seen in the marked contempt for a woman’s role in keeping a home, helping a husband, training up children in the fear of the Lord, and being a humble-hearted servant. It is seen in our culture’s fascination with physical beauty and immodesty and unchasteness. It is seen in the way women are trained in conduct and demeanor.
Proverbs 9:13 says that “the woman of folly is boisterous.” Aggressiveness, forwardness, giddiness, and boisterousness are expected and encouraged in women today. Being loud and tomboyish is considered candid, genuine, and authentic. Pushing your ideas and agenda and usurping men’s roles is encouraged. Being forward and outspoken is considered strength. However the biblical guidelines for a woman are diametrically opposed to this worldly view of womanhood!
Imperishable and Precious
Did you know there is a biblical characteristic that is precious in the sight of God? Think about that phrase for a moment—precious in the sight of God! This must be awfully important!
"Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.” (Philippians 4:5)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness….” (Galatians 5:22-23)
This is not the boisterous woman of folly! The gentle and quiet woman of God possesses something imperishable! She has a lasting and enduring quality in her life as opposed to simple charm and beauty, which are fleeting (Proverbs 31:30). Her gentle and quiet spirit comes from her hidden person of the heart—her life hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3)—and the fruit of that hidden life is precious to God. Women of God, cultivate gentleness! This quiet spirit is imperishable and of great price (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).
True Strength
Christians should be strong in the Lord! And that means women of God should be strong!
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.” (Proverbs 31:25)
But what is strength? Now again, the world would tell us that a very visible and aggressive agenda is strength, that vying with men is greatness. Is this true?
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
Strength and might are found in the Lord. We are told to put on His full armor that we may stand firm against the devil. Ephesians 6 continues in detail about various parts of our armor. I want to focus on two phrases:
“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth….” (v. 14)
“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (v. 17)
Two of our weapons are truth and the word of God. We can fight great battles with the word of God! And what a weapon it is—living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)! God’s word has several clear commands specifically for women. We must know what the word of God says if we are to fight with it:
“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
These are verses that grate terribly on many women! We attempt to explain them away and to rationalize not obeying them. But remember, the word of God is our sword of the Spirit. These verses are part of the word of God, and we can fight the devil with them! Fight hard against the devil! Fight him with whole-hearted obedience to the truth of the word of God!
The next verse shows the godly woman's alternative to the second part of the Proverbs 7:11 verse--"her feet do not remain at home." This verse also demonstrates how obedience can be a weapon against the enemy:
“[The older women] may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” (Titus 2:4-5)
This blueprint for a Christian woman’s job shows quiet, hidden work. Loving children, helping a husband, and working at home all fit in with the gentle and quiet spirit of 1 Peter 3:4. But notice very carefully what happens when women do not obey these verses: the word of God is dishonored! I like the King James Version best here “that the word of God be not blasphemed”! The devil would like nothing better than for the word of God to be blasphemed. We must not assist him in his wicked wiles by rebellion (Proverbs 7:11 again) and disobedience!
Stand in Might and Fight!
Women of God, stand strong the Lord and in the strength of His might! Your strength is in what is not seen in your life and demeanor—in resistance to the siren song of the loud and boisterous woman of folly. It is strength in the hidden person of the heart. It is strength in quietness and gentleness of spirit. It is strength in being a humble servant (Philippians 2:5-7) and a helper of others. It is strength in believing God’s word enough to obey it. It is strength in girding yourself with the truth of the word of God (John 17:17). It is gentle might!
Michelle Shook