Morning Devotional
May 16, 2005
"Without Fear" (Part 4)
    by Don Emmitte

She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth. (Proverbs 31:17-22 NLT).

 

This is almost one of those passages that can make you either angry or at least tremendously jealous. When we read about the “wife of noble character” in Proverbs 31, we almost can’t believe this woman is for real. She has it all together. Her family lacks nothing because of her. Just when I started to think that way, however, I remember the last few months! When Solomon wrote about this Proverbs 31 woman, he may or may not have been writing about an actual person. He may have been referring to the blessings we have when we simply walk in full trust and obedience to the Lord. However, I do know that my wife is such a woman!

 

For those of you who have been following the saga of our move to North Carolina, you know that Mary has held the full weight of responsibility of the sale and disposition of our home in Texas. That, by itself, would have been incredible; however, she also arranged for the packing (doing most of it herself) and move to our new home. We are not completely unpacked as of this writing, but getting closer. It is wonderful to be able to point to her for an example of this proverb.

 

Of course, I am not saying that she “has it all together”, or has every problem solved in her life. Nobody, woman or man, has for that matter. I do know that the Scripture indicates that those who learn to trust in the Lord find their strength in the Lord and are able to live lives of peace and contentment. The apostle Paul apparently got there in his life (cf: Philippians 4:12)

 

I’m not there yet either, but I’d like to get there. I can say that the adventure has been WONDERFUL! Tomorrow, we’ll try to wrap up this discussion and maybe see how.