" A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. "
- Prov 11:16 (KJV)
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This week, we have a very interesting text indeed! In fact, it is so interesting, we are going to ask that you spend some time thinking about what it might mean.... ....what is the truth being expressed here, why did the Spirit of the Lord include it in the Word, and what is the marrow and fatness hidden here that we can extract.... for our instruction and wisdom?
No joy...??? ? ... OK, Let us break it down....together.....
A {Gracious} {Woman} {retains (or attains to)} {Honor .. Kabod}, and {Strong/Ruthless/Violent} {men} {retain(or attain to)} {riches}.
Some things are readily apparent....
1. This proverb is comparing two very different things by putting them next to each other. Gracious woman, strong/ruthless men.... honor, and riches.
2. The comparison is also intended to draw our eyes to what is SIMILAR in the different things that have been brought together ----- the attainment of something ---- Honor or Chabod/Weightiness (by graciousness), and Riches (by violence/ruthlessness).
3. What is DIFFERENT in the comparison? Goals and process, objectives, and ways and means. Graciousness is --the --way to obtain honor from God and men, and Violence/Ruthlessness is -a way- to obtain riches!
4. The opposite (examples) have been carefully chosen. Women/Men, Honour/Riches.
Women, if we are being totally and brutally honest with each other, have been treated as second class citizens for millennia (not by the Bible, but by mankind in general). They represent the weakest and most oppressed deomographic in the world, a fact that transcends cultural and national barriers.
That is the truth, and it is the curse from the Garden. "Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule/have power over you." (Gen 3:16). So how can a "mere" woman compete for weightiness (Chabod) /Honor with men?
Staying honest.... Gentlemen...., you should be aware that half the planet (women) hate you for no other reason than that-- you are men... the privileged ruling /power bearing gender. It may not be apparent or evident, but that animosity is buried deep and always there. --
Women are jealous of what men have, and they are ---particularly jealous--- of other women.-- Openly saying this may result in a drop of our readership, ? but Ladies, you know we are telling the TRUTH!
So this text is a message to both men and women!
Ladies, the path to being respected, and honored, and treated as equal (per the Bible) does NOT lead through violent feminism, androgynism (man-hating), or even vicious take-downs of other women that are encroaching on your territory and possessions.....
Men, if you want to gain riches through violence, which will fly away at the drop of a feather, and leave you with the bill for the violence you caused to get them.... you know what... go for it dudes.... we'll be sipping our pina-coladas and waving bye to you as we cruise past your prison..... More seriously, heres something the Lord has to say to you...
" Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon ----that which is not? ----for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. " Prov 23:4,5
All that violence and ruthlessness to get something you can't keep, can't take with you to heaven, and that has no value there even if you did!! True wealth is being able to do what you want with your own time..... CEOS/ World leaders/Military leaders .... they are all prisoners of the calendar and their schedule, working even on their "off" days/hours. They are to be pitied.
Being content with what you have gives you more time to enjoy it, instead of chasing your tail for the next "big" promotion or jump....
OK.... What -----should------ we be chasing then?
Well, the answer is the same for both Men and Women. --------The favor and honor that comes from God !!----
If you have that, nothing, nothing in this world or outside it, can get to you without having to deal with Him first... including all the agents of the ENEMY and the enemy himself!! Now thats worth more than a few billion in our book.... what would you pay for respect, honor, health, and relationships????
And the way is easy.... show others GRACE. Unmerited favor. Be kind to your enemies. Jesus is famous for saying turn the other cheek etc... but did you know, here in the book of Proverbs, we find...
Pro_24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Pro_25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Good advice even for marriage counselors!!! ? Women, be kind to your husbands, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church. Yes, those are echoes of the Apostle Pauls teachings, and we trust you can see a pattern emerging here.
Grace and Truth, Grace and Truth.... for the true wealth.....
" Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. " - Proverbs 3:3,4
Hallelujah!