Author: PGC Administrator

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Proverbs 31 (ESV)

¹ The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:…

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

REFLECTION:

1. There are many passages in Proverbs mentioning women, and it is extremely appropriate to end with a portrayal of a talented woman. She has a strong character, a high degree of wisdom, versatile skills, and a heart of sympathy and compassion. Some people have a misconception that the ideal woman in the Bible is a person who hides behind a man and takes care of housework. This is not the case. This virtuous woman is not only a good wife and mother, but also a manufacturer, importer, manager, real estate agent, farmer, tailor, interior designer and businessman. It can be said that she is a talented woman who is proficient in everything. However, her strength and honour do not come from her wonderful achievements, but from her fear of God. In modern society, people attach great importance to appearance. However, to our surprise, Proverbs never mention the appearance of this woman. Her charm is based on her virtue. This virtuous woman has amazing abilities. In fact, she may not be a specific woman, but the incarnation of an ideal woman with many virtues. Sisters do not have to imitate everything she does, because your environment is not the same as hers. But might as well use her to inspire you to pursue your ideals. Although we cannot be exactly the same as her, we can learn from her virtues of diligence, integrity, and wisdom.
2. Proverbs begins with a command to fear the Lord (1:7) and ends with a description of a woman who fulfills this command. Her characteristics are also throughout the book: diligence, fear of God, respect for spouse, foresight, encouragement, caring for others, caring for the poor, and good financial management. These qualities, in conjunction with the fear of God, make life joyful, fulfilling, honourable, and valuable. The teachings of Proverbs are still very applicable in our time, because it tells us how to be wise and use wisdom to make useful decisions to live a life that conforms to God’s will.

PRAYER:

Pray for God to guide your life so that you can become a person who fears God and has the wisdom given by God in everything; whether you are a brother or a sister, ask God to give you faith and strength so that you can imitate this virtuous woman, work hard, make good use of your gifts and wealth, and do not deviate from God’s way. May you be blessed throughout your life and live a wise, valuable life after God’s own heart.

HYMN:

Way Maker – www.youtube.com/watch?v=29IxnsqOkmQ

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Proverbs 30 (ESV)

¹ The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle…

⁵ Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

⁷ Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
⁸ Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
⁹ lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

REFLECTION:

The source of the proverb verses in this chapter is not clear, and we don’t know much about Agur, except that he is a wise teacher, and he may be a citizen of the kingdom of King Lemuel mentioned in the next chapter. We don’t know much about King Lemuel either. We only know that King Lemuel received wisdom from his mother, and his name means “offering to God”. “Neither poverty nor wealth” advocated by Agur here has profound wisdom. Too rich can make people indulge, lazy, or greedy and arrogant, and fall into many dangerous trials and snares. The Lord Jesus pointed out that it is more difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (see Matthew 19:23-24). But too poor is the same. Poverty will damage the health of the spirit and the body, and it will also make people fall into many sins and temptations. We must know how to be brought low, and how to abound as Paul taught (cf. Philippians 4:12). If we are “neither poor nor rich” and have no worries about the needs of life, we will focus on spiritual enrichment and spiritual growth, more actively rely on God, and bear a good testimony for God in all aspects.

PRAYER:

Ask God to give you the wisdom to “neither be poor nor rich”. If you are prosperous, ask God to protect your heart from being filled with many material desires, but to return the wealth you gained to God’s work and pursue spiritual growth with gratitude. If you are worried about the economy, ask God to provide for your needs, remove many unnecessary worries in your heart, learn to entrust everything to God, and rely on Him.

HYMN:

Give Thanks – www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGSR1-nGsLI

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+029

Proverbs 29 (ESV)

¹⁵ The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
¹⁶ When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
¹⁷ Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
¹⁸ Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
¹⁹ By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
²⁰ Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
²¹ Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.

REFLECTION:

These few proverb verses once again teach parents how to discipline their children. Many parents often indulge their children, worrying that too strict discipline will harm their young children mentally. Are you also such a parent? If you want to give up discipline, let your children do their own way, or dare not to discipline lest the relationship with your children be damaged, please remember: disciplining with both love and strictness is beneficial to the growth of your children. Disciplining your children with enduring love will eventually teach them self-discipline, make them more wise and capable, and receive long-term blessings from God.

 
PRAYER:

Ask God to give you wisdom and patience. Be able to discipline your children in a coexisting way of love and sternness, so that they can walk in the Word of God throughout their lives. Ask God to establish a closer relationship between you and your children. For your children, pray for them to understand that your strict discipline is for their benefit and long-term blessing from God.

HYMN:

How Deep the Father’s Love – www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDGVl8D5UU

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Proverbs+028

Proverbs 28 (ESV)

 ⁶ Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
⁷ The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
⁸ Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit
gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance…

¹⁸ Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
¹⁹ Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

REFLECTION:

These few proverb verses teach us what the real poverty and abundance, ignorance and wisdom are. Only those who walk in integrity, obey God’s laws and regulations, and pray to God often, are “blameless” (v10) with true abundance and wisdom. This does not mean that we have to be cautious in everything and sinless. In fact, no one can do this. It is that we should not be far away from God at any time, and even if we fall, we are willing to repent immediately and be willing to return to God’s embrace. If we sin again immediately after praying, God will not answer such prayers, but as long as we are willing to abandon our sins and believe in God, no matter how serious the sins we have committed, He is willing to listen. The reason that kept Him from listening to our prayers was not the depth of our sins, but the intention to sin again. A truly “blameless” person is one like David who is willing to repent no matter how great a sin one has committed. The person is abundant and wise in life, after God’s own heart.

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you true abundance and wisdom, to act with integrity in everything, without deceit in your heart. Pray for God to make you a blameless person, and if you commit a sin and fall, be willing to have a sincere and contrite heart and ask God for forgiveness. You will be blessed by God.

HYMN:

Give Me Jesus – www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rZ8k9m2hwo