Weekly Sermons

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle - Proverbs 31:10-31

This past week in Elizabethtown North Carolina, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC placed its 100^th Ultrasound Machine in a pregnancy help center since 2004 through the Psalm 139 Project!

Proverbs 31:10-31

Proverbs 31 relate the words taught to King Lemuel by his mom, first about the Proverbs 31 man (verses 2-9), than about the Proverbs 31 woman (verses 10-31). A Mom was responsible for this entire chapter!

We call Proverbs 31:10-31 the Proverbs 31 woman. Those verses are an alphabetic acrostic – each successive verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, making these verses a poetic masterpiece!

 

Proverbs 31 A to Z

An AMAZING wife is more valuable to her husband than treasure (10)

The BENEFITS of being able to trust her keep adding value to him (11)

She COMPLEMENTS his life impact instead of harming his influence (12)

She’s DISPOSED to provide her family with proper seasonal clothing (13)

She ENSURES her family are fed, and goes out of her way to get deals (14)

She rises FIRST to provide breakfast for her household (15)

She GARDENS and dabbles in real estate (16)

She is HEALTHY and works out (17)

She INDUSTRIOUSLY works, even at night, to provide extra income (18)

She JOINS fabric together with her sewing machine (19)

She KINDLY meets the needs of the poor and needy (20)

She LAUGHS when snow falls – her family is clothed and ready (21)

She MAKES her own bed covering and clothes show her classy touch (22)

She NODS her approval as her husband impacts the community (23)

She OPERATES a home business to provide extra income (24)

Her POISE and sense of humor show readiness for coming troubles (25)

Her QUALITY life allows her to teach others wisely and kindly (26)

She REFUSES to be idle as she actively looks after her household (27)

She is SALUTED by her husband and children (28)

THEY THINK THEIR mom is the most excellent mom there is (29)

UTTERLY VAIN is outer beauty compared to WORSHIPPING God (30)

XTRA effective YIELDS of fruit come from a ZEALOUS woman of God (31)

 

There was and is no actual Proverbs 31 woman – it is an ideal portrait, meant to inspire you to be a godly women, not depress you because your situation is less perfect than the ideal presented here!

 

What Proverbs 31 says good moms do for their families:

1. She helps her husband and children thrive

2. She works hard both in and outside the home to help make ends meet

3. She leads out in taking care of domestic essentials

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. - Proverbs 29:15

4. She takes care of herself physically, emotionally, spiritually

5. She ministers to others in need

 

What Proverbs 31 says good families do for their moms:

1. They recognize her value

2. They show her appreciation

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. - Proverbs 15:20

A foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. - Proverbs 10:1b

Do not despise your mother when she is old. - Proverbs 23:22b

Let her who bore you rejoice. - Proverbs 23:25b

There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. - Proverbs 30:11

We don’t know whether King Lemuel was Solomon or not; we do know that Solomon didn’t forget what his mom and dad taught him, and your children won’t either.

When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.” - Proverbs 4:4

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. - Proverbs 4:23