Sermon Central
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Hats! What Am I Supposed To Do?
Contributed by Davon Huss on May 9, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: A sermon on the woman of Proverbs 31 (Outline and material adapted from Billy Joe Thrasher)
HoHum:
The Supermom. What is a woman supposed to be and do? So many ideas of the perfect woman
Hats by Amy Grant- Well, it don’t stop. No, it’s never gonna stop. Why do I have to wear so many things on my head? Hats! One day I’m a mother, one day I’m a lover. What am I supposed to do? Hats! Working for a living All because I’m driven to be the very best for you. This may be a dream come true, this may be poetry in motion, This may be a dream come true, But when it all comes down, it’s an awful lot to do.
WBTU:
For thousands of years, God-fearing women have looked to the noble, or virtuous (KJV), woman of Proverbs 31 as their ideal. This poem was traditionally recited in the Jewish home every week on the eve of the Sabbath.
But what about today’s woman? Of what value can this ancient poem be to the diverse, complex life-styles of women today? To the married, to the single, to the young, to the old, to those working outside the home or inside the home, to those women with children or without children? It is more relevant than you might at first expect — although it is also too good to be true.
The woman described in Proverbs 31 is a picture of an ideal woman. The focus of this picture is a woman’s relationship with God, not her specific abilities or marital status. The Proverbs 31 woman realizes that regardless of her natural talents or acquired skills, or all her accomplishments, her strength comes from God.
Thesis: 8 descriptions of the Proverbs 31 woman
For instances:
She is compared to a rare jewel (vs. 10)
We should value her as one would value a precious stone- hard to find but once found, worth it.
Solomon, who knew something about women having 700 wives and 300 concubines, said this in Ecclesiastes 7:28: I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.
Proverbs 18:22: He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
J. Vernon McGee says, “I want to say that I have always thanked the Lord for my wife. It is wonderful to have a good wife- and to have someone who is able to put up with me!”
She is her husband’s right hand man
After the creation, God found one flaw. Genesis 2:18: The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:21-24: So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Nice but what was the reason for this. Man to have a helper suitable for him- a partnership.
Ladies- You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side.
She is industrious (vs. 13-19, 24, 27)
Man’s work is from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done. Men are sprinters while women are marathon runners.
In these responsibilities there is seldom praise, but often criticism. In our homes, how much would get done if it wasn’t for women?
She is a generous woman (Vs. 20-22)
First, she is generous with her family. Mother many times is more generous than the father. Always making things and giving things away to the family.
She wants to give to the family and then to her neighbors and others who are in need.
How many women give hugs, cards and food to those who are sick or in turmoil compared to those who are men?
She honors her husband (Vs. 23)
Some women publicly chastise their husbands, tell their friends what a failure or baffoon he is, tell everyone all of his faults. A woman will make or break a man. Behind every good man, there is a good woman.
A good woman will do her best to honor her husband, not to disgrace him. She should tell her husband his faults, failings and sins in private where things can be worked out, not out in public or behind his back. She will not do anything to hurt the reputation of her husband.
