December 31

Dec 31 - Today from Proverbs 31 we look at verse 13
"She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands."

As is my custom when looking at this portion of Proverbs 31, I couple today's verse with that of Ephesians 5:31, 32, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church." Although the principles of Proverbs 31:10-31 hold true in the development of a wife of noble character, for our studies purposes I choose to view them as great principles of ministry for the church.
The principle for the ministering church in today's verse is this: The church is constantly looking for opportunities in the 'raw materials' around her, and eagerly working to see them transformed into useful products. This activity clearly takes an attribute that we call an 'outward focus'. As we contemplate the elements of the analogy between the Proverbs and Ephesians passages, we can conclude that the wool and the flax were not simply lying on a counter in the home. The wife either harvested the raw materials herself, or she purchased them in the marketplace. In either case, she had to go outside of the home to find the materials. There was commitment and effort involved.
When Jesus set the example in ministry for His disciples, He did not spend all of His time in the synagogues and the temple. He taught and preached in those places, and occasionally ministered. The majority of His ministry was out in the streets and neighborhoods. He was constantly making a effort to find the raw materials from which He would build His church. Even His living parable of making His disciples 'fishers of men' reveals this principle (Luke 5:1-10 & John 21:1-14). He did not stand on the bow of the boat and command the fish to jump in the boat. He had the weary disciples cast their nets into the waters and then go through the physically taxing process of hauling in the catch. So important was this lesson that He gave the living illustration twice -- once early on in His ministry before His resurrection, and once after to confirm its message.
The wife of noble character lives out this principle in her household. Her ministry not only honors her husband (verses 12 & 23), and cares for her household (verses 15 & 27), but it benefits the community (verses 20 & 24). She busies herself in the community, seeking and selecting the raw materials that have potential, and works with her hands (verses 17 & 19), to turn them into useful products. This is a picture of a healthy and vital church. The church is called to do more than to look after the members of her household. She is to be active in the community, looking for opportunities to take unused or unrefined resources and turn them into assets which add value to the community. The church is to be clever in her ministry. And, the church is to be eager to do it. That means ministry is not pushed down on the priority list. It is a witness to the world of the wisdom, compassion and care of the Husband, our Lord Jesus Christ. It gives the church credibility and favor in the community, and it gives credibility to her message. When the church looses her 'outward focus' and places ministry far down on the priority list, the church becomes dysfunctional. No matter how nicely they decorate the boat, the fish are not going to jump in. She needs to mend her nets, listen for His instruction, eagerly throw them out into the waters, and see what God will do.
There is plenty of flax and wool out there in the community waiting to be transformed. May Christ’s bride recommit herself to the task of developing the potential around her. May the Church honor Christ in the coming New Year.