Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 7

...She provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

Proverbs 31:15

Friends, this is my favorite! I read these words and fill with warm fuzzies. A Proverbs 31 woman provides for her family and for her "servant girls." Day five's discussion talked about soul food -- not literal food for the family. This verse takes that idea just a little further. 

The Proverbs 31 Woman provides for her family AND her servant girls. She doesn't have tunnel vision, but realizes that her family is part of a larger world. She understands that providing "soul food" for her family includes showing compassion and kindness to others. She realizes that her resources aren't just for her family, but to reach people beyond her immediate sphere.

Since most of us don't have servant girls, how would the Proverbs 31 woman live this out today?

Every family has limited resources, but God's desire is that we use them for more than just ourselves. Malachi 3:10 says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in (God's) house..." Yet, we use 100%  (actually our debt suggests we use more than 100% but that's for another post) of our income for house, food, activities, sports, clubs, entertainment, clothes and more. We don't live within our means and certainly have nothing left to share with others. 

The Proverbs 31 woman wouldn't fall in this trap. She would provide sufficiently for her family, but keep in mind that she has a responsibility to help others too. She would budget wisely and do both well.

What can we do to plan wisely?

• Pray over budget decisions before making them. Yep, I said it. BUDGET! Don't just draw up a plan, but pray and seek God's wisdom for your plan. (HINT: Pray with your husband and family for wisdom in this area.) Do you spend more for travel soccer than you do to heat your house? Or does your family spend more on dining out than you do on your monthly mortgage (Check this out: If a family dines out twice a week, spending an average of $50/dinner, that is $400/month!)?
• Invest intentionally in others. Incorporate the tithe into your budget from the get-go. Give back to God and watch Him bless your resources. Be wise, like the Proverbs 31 woman! But don't leave it there. What talent has God blessed you with? What are you passionate about? Share time, too. Not just money.
• Make it a family affair. Seek God's wisdom for your family. How can you serve together, blessing others with the joy, love and hope of Jesus? I talked about this a few days ago. Read this post to consider options for your family.

Beyond what she can do, we should ask why... Why would a modern Proverbs 31 woman look beyond her family to serve others? After all, life is hectic these days. 

• Realize "it's not about you." The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20, is Jesus' challenge to all who love Him. That includes the harried housewife! Go out there -- anywhere -- and make disciples of all. Jesus doesn't require that we go to Kenya to save the tribes. He does ask us to reach EVERYONE who doesn't know him. That includes the grumpy grocery store clerk, the mean schoolteacher, and the kids who live next door. And their parents. Hiding in our cocoons, wearing blinders, doesn't change the need. It just keeps us from meeting it. We don't live for ourselves, we live for Jesus.
• Understand that much of what we teach our kids is actually caught, not taught. We can take our kids to Sunday School and help them memorize Bible verses, but if they never get a chance to live out their love for Jesus, how will it grow? The Proverbs 31 woman modeled generous love by providing not just for her own family, but for others as well. She recognized that the servant girls are just as precious to God as her own children. Stop.... Reread that last sentence. Do you show your kids by the way you live that EVERYONE is as special to God as they are? Be honest. Your kids watch everything you do. They hear everything you say. What do your actions say to them?
• Love multiplies when it's shared. This is a God phenomenon. Supernatural love. Nothing I say can really explain it, but the more we love others, the more love grows. When my family "sacrifices" time or resources to help someone else, our love for each other grows. God knits our hearts together as we serve others. He never disappoints.

Dear friends, I pray with all my heart that you get this! What you do with your money, your "stuff," your time and your heart matters more to your family than you can possibly imagine. When your love spills over into the lives and hearts of people beyond your family, you will be blessed as the Proverbs 31 Woman is blessed. She is a generous woman, driven by her heart's desire to do the job of mommy well. 

"Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38). Ask God to show you His plan. How does He want your family to serve others? Let our great, creative God pour some creative love into your family's life!

To go deeper, meditate on each verse included in this post.

• Malachi 3:10.
• Matthew 28:16-20.
• Luke 6:38.

Consider these questions:

How does your family show God's love for others?

What keeps you from stepping into the "faith zone" to do more -- are you so focused on your desire for your own family that you have blinders about the world around you? (Yes, tough question!)

What do you desire for your kids -- do you have God-sized dreams or do you dream of success and an easy life?

Pray:

Ask God to show you what your heart really treasures -- whether it's His kingdom or your family or something else.

Invite God to help you dream bigger for Him.

Dedicate your family, the people, your resources and your time, to make an impact for His kingdom that will last forever.

My friends, I know this is a challenging post. I, too, am challenged to step further out of my comfort zone to make a difference for others. To make a difference for God! We are blessed to have the hope of Jesus in our hearts. Doesn't everyone deserve the same blessing?

Please let me know how I can pray for you. After you leave a comment, be sure to visit the other bloggers in this series:

13 Bloggers, 13 topics, One Great God.

• Using Skills to Contribute to Family/2 better than 1 

• The Fear of the Lord/ Satisfied by Love

• Using time wisely/Blessed Beyond Measure

• Taking care of needy/ Shadow Wonder

• Using money wisely/Jennifer Sikora 

• Keeping an eye on home/Just a Glimpse

• She can laugh at the days ahead/ Faith Filled Food for Moms

• Clothed in strength and dignity/One thing I’ve Learned

• Taking care of others/ 2 savvy gals

• Being Creative/A Patchwork Mommy

• Bringing Variety to Family/ Karen Dawkins

• Extending your Hand to the Poor/ Women’s Fellowship House

• Organization/Teaching what is Good

Love,