Proverbs 31:3 "Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings."
When I was getting married, I noticed that there was a lot of advice that people had. What not to do, what not to accept from my soon to be spouse, how I shouldn't even be getting married! What I did notice was that those who giving me advice, they were divorced, they were single and looking. The only two people who gave me sound counsel said these two things "Don't go to bed mad." and "Let him make mistakes." Now at the time, I couldn't for the life of me understand why someone would say to me, "let him make mistakes," and send our marriage to doomsday in an Amtrak. But thinking back, even though it wasn't meant, much like Cinderella's step sister getting Cinderella's shoe on with a show horn (another story), I realized that statement. It was wise counsel.
Our children are much the same. When we give the "or else" statements, they test (we fail) and consequences are given. We threaten to take things, scream and even glare they will eventually do what we say, but will they get the lesson from it? The only lesson they are getting is how far they can push Mommy or Daddy or some are even learning to count! That is not the lesson we want them to adhere when we tell them they need to clean their rooms is it?
We are the same with God! In this text, Lemuel's mother is a wise woman. I even wonder if she was describing herself in the latter verses. She warns her son NOT to be involved not only with women who drain strength (said that many times to my son) or those who destroy kings. As I look at it, she wasn't just describing women in a sex kind of way. She was talking about those who may not even know they are destroying a man. The ones who wear things to get attention, the ones who lash out at men in general making life hard for them. Then she goes a step further and touches on ALL men and women, who destroy kings. Because we are Royalty in God's Family, there are those who will set out to destroy us. We are not to let them. Notice she does not say stay away from them, but "do not give your ways," to them. A king’s ways reflected his bloodline back then. Giving his ways to those who destroy was to say, "Here, you take over." Not good! In laments terms today, don't hand anyone your peace, your joy, or your blessings by putting down who you are in Christ to step down to their level. Been there? Done that? We literally hand them our ways and pick up theirs when we react. I love that!! Don’t you?
Wise counsel is so needed today! The sad thing is that when we give wise counsel, we sometimes hand over our ways with it when we don’t get the reaction we think we need..... Sound familiar.... say from Jonah? We also need to receive wise counsel just as eagerly as we give it. That is another way to give our "ways" to those who can destroy us. By easily being offended or defensive when they give counsel. Been there myself! \O
Let's make this a new day of being wise shall we? Remember to give counsel how you would want it given to you and accept it even when it is not welcome, by testing the spirits to see if they are of God. We do that before giving counsel, at least we should be! Perhaps when we don’t, that is when we offend others. When we go against what James said in chapter 1? You know what I'm talking about. Being "slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen"??? Ouch! That hurt me! Take time out to think about what you are about to say, not with your mind, but with Holy Spirit in mind. Speak life, even when giving counsel. But be careful to watch for those who can destroy!
Father God, thank You for giving us wisdom. Thank You for the chance to pour that same counsel into others. I pray God that our giving counsel would never be void of Your Word just because we feel puffed up and are able to speak. Give us wisdom in receiving counsel as well as giving Lord. Thank You for this reminder Lord. Pour into us so that we may pour into others. In Jesus name, Amen!
When I was getting married, I noticed that there was a lot of advice that people had. What not to do, what not to accept from my soon to be spouse, how I shouldn't even be getting married! What I did notice was that those who giving me advice, they were divorced, they were single and looking. The only two people who gave me sound counsel said these two things "Don't go to bed mad." and "Let him make mistakes." Now at the time, I couldn't for the life of me understand why someone would say to me, "let him make mistakes," and send our marriage to doomsday in an Amtrak. But thinking back, even though it wasn't meant, much like Cinderella's step sister getting Cinderella's shoe on with a show horn (another story), I realized that statement. It was wise counsel.
Our children are much the same. When we give the "or else" statements, they test (we fail) and consequences are given. We threaten to take things, scream and even glare they will eventually do what we say, but will they get the lesson from it? The only lesson they are getting is how far they can push Mommy or Daddy or some are even learning to count! That is not the lesson we want them to adhere when we tell them they need to clean their rooms is it?
We are the same with God! In this text, Lemuel's mother is a wise woman. I even wonder if she was describing herself in the latter verses. She warns her son NOT to be involved not only with women who drain strength (said that many times to my son) or those who destroy kings. As I look at it, she wasn't just describing women in a sex kind of way. She was talking about those who may not even know they are destroying a man. The ones who wear things to get attention, the ones who lash out at men in general making life hard for them. Then she goes a step further and touches on ALL men and women, who destroy kings. Because we are Royalty in God's Family, there are those who will set out to destroy us. We are not to let them. Notice she does not say stay away from them, but "do not give your ways," to them. A king’s ways reflected his bloodline back then. Giving his ways to those who destroy was to say, "Here, you take over." Not good! In laments terms today, don't hand anyone your peace, your joy, or your blessings by putting down who you are in Christ to step down to their level. Been there? Done that? We literally hand them our ways and pick up theirs when we react. I love that!! Don’t you?
Wise counsel is so needed today! The sad thing is that when we give wise counsel, we sometimes hand over our ways with it when we don’t get the reaction we think we need..... Sound familiar.... say from Jonah? We also need to receive wise counsel just as eagerly as we give it. That is another way to give our "ways" to those who can destroy us. By easily being offended or defensive when they give counsel. Been there myself! \O
Let's make this a new day of being wise shall we? Remember to give counsel how you would want it given to you and accept it even when it is not welcome, by testing the spirits to see if they are of God. We do that before giving counsel, at least we should be! Perhaps when we don’t, that is when we offend others. When we go against what James said in chapter 1? You know what I'm talking about. Being "slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen"??? Ouch! That hurt me! Take time out to think about what you are about to say, not with your mind, but with Holy Spirit in mind. Speak life, even when giving counsel. But be careful to watch for those who can destroy!
Father God, thank You for giving us wisdom. Thank You for the chance to pour that same counsel into others. I pray God that our giving counsel would never be void of Your Word just because we feel puffed up and are able to speak. Give us wisdom in receiving counsel as well as giving Lord. Thank You for this reminder Lord. Pour into us so that we may pour into others. In Jesus name, Amen!
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