EquippedMama

She extends her hand to the poor,

and reaches out her hand to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes for herself coverlets;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is well-known in the city gate

when he sits with the enders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and honor,

and she can laugh at the time to come.

Proverbs 31:20-25

Revisiting our topic from last week, we join the Proverbs 31 woman to observe the elements of her life from which we can glean wisdom. Last week, we discussed how the Proverbs 31 woman is one who is both maternal and strong. She is praised first and foremost for the strength of her character, which is clearly rooted in her fear of the Lord. She holds in perfect balance her responsibilities for her family and to complete her work in the public sphere; she is successful and industrious, but prioritizes her families’ needs before her own. Finally, we identified another key aspect of her character as a strong, maternal mama. Her joy. As we continue this conversation, please consider what aspects of this woman’s character the Lord might be calling you to emulate.

Does anyone else get flustered by those moms that seem to have it all together? I’m sure you know who I’m talking about. They’re the women that show up to story time early, donning clean, stylish outfits, straightened hair, and perfectly portioned snacks ziplocked and sealed for their toddler’s necessary nutritious nibbling. Or they might show up at your gym. They’re the ones checking their kids out of childcare just as you’re showing up. Meaning they’ve already worked out.

By 9 am.

Now, whoever those moms are for you, let me clarify before we continue, that the mama sketched for us in Proverbs 31 is a role model for us to emulate, not an example to guilt us into working harder, or trying more. This is a woman who validates the worthiness of the work that we do as mothers, and who points us to the eternal significance of our high calling as mothers.

The woman described in this passage is remarkable on many levels, but we will focus primarily on two elements. She has a remarkable ministry from her home and she does a steadfast work for her home. This is a mark of a strong, maternal woman. She is resourceful and uses her home to be a ministry to others, yet she recognizes her need to minister to her family with utmost priority.

Verse 20 in this Scripture selection highlights that this role-model mama does not limit her ministry to those born into her home. She is sensitive to the needs of the poor and the needy. For those of us who are in the child-rearing phase of life, having a set “ministry” by volunteering or teaching a class might not be a possibility. Even from our homes, however, we can be agents of the mercy of God, by serving the poor and needy within our sphere of influence.

One practical application is using your home as a ministry ground by practicing hospitality. Believers are encouraged repeatedly to show hospitality (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2) and are encouraged to do so without complaining (1 Peter 4:9). That seems a little intense for a busy mama. Sometimes the fridge just doesn’t have enough food to share with another family. Sometimes the house isn’t big enough to allow for overnight guests. But Jesus reminds us that the Lord sees our hearts in our sacrifices. Even those who give a cup of cold water in the name of Christ will be blessed (Mark 9:41). All of us can handle that!

We have at our disposal the ready ministries of encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11), prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and giving (2 Corinthians 9:7) among many others. Being limited on time, mobility, or finances does not preclude us from being a ministry and a blessing to the poor and needy in our lives. We are called, like the Proverbs 31 woman, to share what we have as the Lord leads.

Secondly, the woman described in this passage does not only have a vibrant ministry to those outside her home, but those within it. Her home is a place of beauty. Her family is dressed well, attired in clothing that she has provided for them. Inclement weather does not frighten her, as she has prepared amply for the needs of her family. This woman has not simply covered “the basics” of her family’s necessities. She has gone above and beyond to provide beauty for her family; a beauty that reflects her fear of the Lord.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, in her recent book, Adorned, comments on the importance of ministry to the family through the home when she says;

We can’t separate our home life from our Christian life without missing something that is critical to our fellowship with God and our usefulness to His mission in the world. When we minimize the role of wife and mother or the importance of establishing and maintaining Christ-centered homes that put the gospel on display–or even when our main goal is just to keep everybody in line and on schedule– we shortchange the enormous kingdom impact our life at home is supposed to have.

Adorned, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, 2017, Chicago. pg. 210

The question begs to be asked, can we reflect Christ in the way we tend to the responsibilities of our home? Can washing dishes, changing diapers, paying bills and making beds reflect the glory of the Gospel?

In short, yes. As we have mentioned already, the ministry of the home is one that every woman should take seriously. As modeled in the description of the Proverbs 31 woman, it should be done with excellence. However, of more importance than the type of clothes we provide for our children or the cuisine we serve for supper is the way in which we complete these responsibilities. In our attitudes and actions we convey the love of Christ. Consider what Paul said concerning the topic of service in his letter to the Philippians:

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.

Philippians 2:3-7 New English Translation

While none of us will ever be called to humble ourselves in the way Christ did, his example is a powerful one to follow.

When we serve our family sacrificially, treating their needs as more important than our own, we reflect the love of Christ.

When we wash the floors and clean the toilets not grudgingly, but out of gratitude and a genuine heart of love, we reflect the love of Christ.

When our actions are free from self-pity, self-righteousness, and when we serve our family with the true attitude of a servant, in this way we reflect the love of Christ.

As mothers and wives, we are given the platform of our physical dwelling places to preach the Gospel, both from our homes and to our homes. This is a position of true influence, and while the duties are domestic, do not be confused. This is the job for a strong, maternal mama.