Some helpful wisdom from the book of Proverbs for girls of today
Have you ever found yourself in a sticky situation? Maybe you said something that you really should have left unspoken. Perhaps you caused dissension among friends. Or maybe, to your extreme dismay, you find yourself acting in a way you have always despised!
Well, the book of Proverbs is packed full of wisdom for us. God’s Word is fresh, alive and active. See Hebrews 4:12. It’s described as a two-edged sword. Think of a sword for moment. It’s not dull. It can cut. Do you let God’s Word enter deep into your heart? Do you seek God earnestly in prayer, asking Him to root out the sin and to transform you more and more into Christ’s image? This is something we should ask Him to do. David prayed for eyes that would “behold wondrous things” out of God’s law. So, we read God’s Word not just to check off a box, or say that we’ve had our quiet time for the day, but to learn and to grow, to be convicted of sin and to really KNOW HIM more deeply! THE GOAL IS GROWTH NOT PERFECTION.
So, here are a couple Proverbs. Wisdom for gals. Timeless truths!
①He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends, Proverbs 17:9. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise, Proverbs 10:19. We were recently out to dinner with a couple friends. During the evening, we disclosed a particular issue. It’s something that bothered us… something we observed in someone else that was improper. Little did we know that the information would travel around after dinner, and that another party would be put in an uncomfortable situation because of it! Ahhh! So, the lesson learned: if we see something improper going on, we should go right then to the proper authority and voice the concern. Another lesson: consider if talking about the issue is GOSSIP. Is it slander, even if no names are mentioned? Can the one we’re sharing our concern with even help in the issue? What will prevent the story from being shared with another party? Like the game telephone, you never know what the final “story” will actually be! So, love does seek to cover sin. It seeks out the best. It hopes for the best. Love does not dismiss sin. It does not justify sin. But love does look for the proper way to deal with delicate issues that come up regarding others. Be respectful of others and sensitive. If in doubt, don’t say it! Prayer from David in Psalm 141:3, Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Luke 6:45 Your true being brims over into true words and deeds. (the message) The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart. (NET)
Words start from the heart. How is my heart? What condition is it in? Does it belong to Jesus? Healthy? Whole? Yielded?
-ask God to cleanse my heart in order that I might speak right words.
-cleanse my heart with the Word of God
-evaluate how my words will be understood before I speak them
②The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down, Proverbs 14:1. And from James 1:19, My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry… Building a house… building the relationships around you… investing wisely into those God has put in your life. The place where you live is your place to build. The wise woman is going to build up! The foolish is going to tear down. Which one are you? What habits are you forming today that are helping to shape your responses to irritations? Maybe you’re thinking, “I just can’t make myself love him or her!” You’re not alone if you don’t always have those warm tender feelings to those around you, especially your family. For me, it’s helpful to remember that I’m to do everything as to the Lord. It’s helpful to keep GOD in my mind – a healthy fear and reverence of His presence… so that I do seek to please Him and bring Him honor in my actions. This is a great quote from C.S. Lewis on loving even when you don’t feel like it:
The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. The Christian, trying to treat everyone kindly, finds himself liking more and more people as he goes on- including people he could not even have imagined himself liking at the beginning ~ C.S. Lewis. Learning to love a little more. Actions lead to feelings!!
③[A woman of noble character] watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness, Proverbs 31:27. Doing your share, helping without being asked, caring about others. We recently completed the book of Ruth with our BSF group. Ruth’s character is amazing! She served her mother-in-law Naomi day after day. Going out early and working until the evening, gathering grain, carrying heavy loads. She was unselfish. She was generous. She was loyal and faithful. She was not lazy in the least! And of course we all know that her character did not go unnoticed by Boaz! So, what about you? what about me? Keeping things in order is not easy. Try to set aside an hour or two a week to clean out and reorganize your room. Be alert to the needs of your mom. If you aren’t sure, ask her what you can do to help her out! There are times and seasons for rest and fun… but make sure you take advantage of the times to be productive, useful, and loving to those around you. Be a blessing!
Live in such a way that if anyone should speak badly of you no one would believe it.
