Proverbs 31:16
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
I’m currently reading a book by Larry Burkett called Personal Finances for background research on a budgetting session I’ll be presenting on at my church next month. In one section he writes about striving for excellence and quotes 1 Peter 4:11, reminding the reader how important it is that we use our abilities for God’s glory. He then goes on to say that “it is important that wives and mothers excel at what they do. Usually the mother becomes the teacher of habits in the home, and her attitudes are generally reflected by her children. If she excels at what she does and keeps the home well-organized, she can be a great asset to home financial planning.” I wrote after that paragraph ‘Proverbs31 Woman’ because that is exactly what he was describing (he missed it!).
Verse 16 of Proverbs 31 shows us that this woman spends her money wisely and makes it work for her. She uses her earnings to provide for the family. Not only that but what she chooses to do with the money is something that would keep producing over time, i.e. the vineyard that would keep producing grapes for wine, that she can sell, and then plant more vines, or buy more land, or do something else with those funds. Above I mentioned Larry Burkett and how he talks of the wife and mother excelling at what she does and being an asset to the home financial planning and in Proverbs 31:16 we see the same thing.
If I’d not been doing this study I probably wouldn’t have seen this passage in Larry’s book in the same way. But I feel that as you’re learning one thing, God backs it up with other things, to reinforce the lesson. Have you found that to be so? It now means that as I present on budgetting next month at my church, I’ll be able to share what I’ve been learning from Proverbs 31 as well as from Larry Burkett’s book and other things I’ve been reading also.
Prayer: Father, help me to recognise when you are sending lessons that are from you. Help me to see the connections where you are involved. Thank you that you care enough to keep sending messages and messengers through various avenues until my ears, eyes and mind recognise they are from you.
July 22nd, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Hi Kathie,
I totally agree – God always seems to send numerous messages to pound those lessons into our heads! Sometimes I find it so comforting, when I’ve made a decision and then he leads me to various resources that confirm the rightness of that decision. He is so gracious!
I’ve looked at all your blogs. My, you ARE prolific!
Rachelle
December 21st, 2006 at 4:31 pm
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December 31st, 2006 at 10:52 pm
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March 2nd, 2007 at 3:04 am
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March 19th, 2007 at 7:31 am
I was just studying that verse this morning, and wondered who else was online with it. I enjoyed your reflections.
One thing that jumped out at me today was the fact that “fruit of her hands” isn’t necessarily about money- and neither is the vineyard; especially in that bartering society,and considering other verses about weaving and selling belts. To me the idea is about creating lasting “value”.
Beyond longterm income and investment benefits, it seems to me a family vineyard is also about creating a value and vehicle for enjoyment and refreshment. Doing a vineyard is no picnic, by itself; it’s hard work. But it is also a place for family parties, recreation, social and community benefits, annual harvest festivals… and just a nice place to eat lunch on a hot summer day.
So today, I’m challenging myself with the question: What’s my vineyard? What values do I want to leave as a legacy to my extended family? And how can my talents and abilities best plant that sucker?
Thanks for the post – it was great.
April 25th, 2007 at 5:03 am
I have enjoyed reading your blog I too write a daily blog and enjoy writing very much. I am also doing a study on the Proverbs Woman! This is a great blog keep up the good work.
Pastor Gayla