House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. [Proverbs 19:14 ESV]
I know what you’re thinking—that’s not Proverbs 31—but bear with me and I will bring it back there. So, this verse tells us that a “prudent wife is from the Lord.” Ok you scholars, what does prudent mean? I couldn’t give a clear definition to save my life.
Definition of prudence (Merriam-Webster)
1: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
2: sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
3: skill and good judgment in the use of resources
4: caution or circumspection as to danger or risk
If this doesn’t fully describe the Proverbs 31 woman in verses 13-22 then I don’t know what does. The Proverbs 31 woman is prudent, but prudency (as is an excellent wife and wisdom) is “from the Lord.” Are we seeing a trend?
We must also understand that Proverbs are principles that will usually happen, but they are not promises. Many of us will go through seasons in our lives and trials that will strip everything away from us. In those seasons the Lord may be teaching us of His faithfulness, His goodness, and our need to trust Him. He may send me into the wilderness, and at that time I can still trust that my lamp will not go out at night; I can have no fear of snow for my household. If all this has happened in God’s timing and His will (and not my sin), then I can trust Him to provide.
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [Mat 6:25-30 ESV]
Are you anxious for the next few months? Remember God loves you! I know many of us would love to plan for the next six months, but let’s focus on being prudent for today. Trust God for today and take tomorrow as it comes.
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” [Mat 6:34 ESV]
Reflection Questions:
- Are you in a wilderness? Or have the last 5 months been a wilderness?
- If so, what is God teaching you through this?
Is it a comfort to see that the traits of the Proverbs 31 woman come from the Lord?
Reflection Song:
