Friday, May 21, 2010

She Does Not Eat the Bread of Idleness




We are beginning this series because I believe there is a great need to have discernment in today's morally decaying culture to protect the family. The Proverbs 31 woman "looked well to the ways of her household and did not eat the bread of idleness" as we see in verse 27 and we should do likewise. Other translations include:

She carefully watches everything in her household...

She gives attention to the ways of her family...

She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family...

We need to be ever so careful to not "eat the bread of idleness" by turning a blind eye to the affairs of our family or household, being too busy to notice, or too lazy to care. Instead, we need to be busy faithfully managing the household and watching over the affairs of our family. We need to learn to do it well and practice discernment.

Here is the definition:

dis·cern


1.to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend.

2.to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is capable of discerning right from wrong.

Noah Websters Dictionary of 1828 also adds:

To see or understand the difference, as to make distinction, as to discern between evil and good, truth and falsehood.

Not only will it take wisdom and discernment to really look well to the ways of our household, but it will take a sacrifice on our behalf.

It will mean we have to take seriously what scripture says.

It means we will have to take a close look at what we have been mindlessly allowing in our homes.

It means we will have to free up time to turn our homes around .

It means purposefully living a holy life yourself.

It also means that we do not follow the world's mold or philosophy of raising children. We look to the Bible as our main source of parental wisdom and we start from there. We pray, study and set biblical goals for our children. Whatever does not line up with these goals needs to be reassessed.

Mothers, we need to be diligent in this area. This is a treacherously, wicked culture that is quickly subduing, discipling and drawing our children faster away from the Lord than ever before. But there is something we can do about it...we can say no to the evil and stand strong on the battle frontlines for their hearts and futures.

I am prepared to do that.

I am prepared to fight the war that has been waged against our children.

Now my question is....

Are you?










*************************

(She Looketh Well Series--Part 2)

19 comments:

Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

I am in the middle of a Proverbs 31 series on my blog and I just posted this week on this very verse "She does not eat the bread of idleness".

http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/search/label/Proverbs%2031

I can't wait for your posts - I'm gonna have to give my readers the link!!! Looking forward to this!

Much Love,
Courtney
http://www.womenlivingwell.org

pandorasjen79 said...

Thank you for this post. I needed to hear it's wisdom today.

Valerie said...

Funny, b/c I have been following Courtney's blog as well as yours and was just thinking...now where did I read this?!

This is such a timely topic for me...especially as I am about to graduate a PreK kiddo and send her into the world of public school. And while I am not saying that all public schools and attendees are bad, I am saying that as a former public school teacher, your child is going to be introduced, and maybe even influenced, by values and choices not in line with one's own family values. I'm not sure how this experiment is going to work...I may end up homeschooling.

I am constantly surprised by the reactions I get from friends (and yes, even some extended family members) because we do not allow television or computers in our children's bedrooms and dress our children modestly, including saying the big NO to two-piece swim suits.

As mothers, it is our DUTY to protect our children and spouses from inappropriate outside influences...the Devil is always watching for a way in.

Becky said...

What a timely post for me. I just wrote in my journal this morning on my need to put an end to my idleness. It's an issue I've dealt with for awhile now and I'm ready to put an end to it.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

God Bless,

Becky

Unknown said...

This is very good! I agree :)
I work on it :)
Following you back :)
XOXO
Frenchy

Robin said...

I just found your blog, and have read several of your recent posts. I have been so blessed in these few minutes! Thank you so much for speaking so clearly and lovingly to all wives and mothers!

Dianne said...

Oh, I just love it when someone speaks the truth others aren't willing to speak. It is so cleansing. Personally, I believe there are fewer things more encouraging than when someone just comes out and says what God says without dancing around the subject apologetically. Really looking forward to this. There is so much I need to change in this area...I would love to hear the practical examples especially ones that deal with babies who don't want to be put down (and no older children to help hold them) and toddlers that look bored out of their minds when you're busy trying to get things done and feel guilty. Thanks for your gentle encouragement!

Tara said...

Thank you for this. I really needed it.

Cheryl said...

It is always like a bit of Spring Rain to visit your blog!

A deepening of the Truth of God in the life of a Mother.

THANK YOU!!!

~
Cheryl

M Farris said...

Enjoyed this! :-)

Anonymous said...

Great article! It is so the cry of today's mothers to lament their loss of personhood. The remedy for that, in the world's eyes is to eat the bread of idleness. Now, I'm not against a mother needing to recharge, but motherhood is the essence of self-sacrifice.

What many mothers don't seem to realize that the self-sacrifice of today reaps the fruit of a great harvest in our children later in life. Whereas the mothers who eat the bread of idleness, while it may make things easier now, more often than not find grief and sorrow from and/or because of their children.

Parents today need to realize a couple of things:
1. Children are NOT pets.
2. We are responsible before God as to how we raise our children and what we set before their eyes and ears.

Barbara said...

Beautiful blog posts in writing and art work. All of your posts are a delight, pleasing to the Lord and His followers.

Far Above Rubies said...

Yes, I am prepared. I will fight against the evils of this world by first becoming the example.

As mothers we can easily turn the TV off when a questionable "cartoon" or a teenage show comes on, but will we turn off channels like Lifetime, Oprah, and other talk shows and soap operas when the children are napping or sleeping for the night?


It's hypocritical and our children perceive it and know in their hearts it doesn't make sense.

Thank you so much, June. I always look forward to passing by and reading something lovely and true from God's word here at A Wise Woman.

~Zeal said...

Yes, I'm ready. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, and I am giving thanks to YHVH for this series, and the A Wise Woman Builds her House" site.



Yochannah

Leslie {Goodbye, house. Hello, home!} said...

Yes, i am willing to do taht--and have been, but need to be more watchful as my girl gets older...
Wonderful post!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I am in the minority here. I have NOT been discerning regarding my household in recent yrs. When my girls were little I was, but along the way something was lost.

I found it difficult to focus on studying the Word of God, being more a hearer than a doer. It now shows in my family. I am concerned it is too late. My daughters are 17 and 12. It really is my fault and I have no one to blame but myself.

Unknown said...

It is never to late as long as you still have breath to give praise. Will not be easy...

MHolley said...

So true

MHolley said...

So true im.with you on the swimsuit thing too

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