Role Model for Life
The Bible is not a book that is supposed to be a dust collector in our book shelf. It should be read often because in it we can find the true meaning of life and a help to live life. (Proverbs 4:20-27. It is a living word which means that although it was written some thousand years ago it is still applicable for our lives today, in the 21st century. A living word is also a word that gives life and that has breath. In John 6:63 Jesus says that the words he speaks are spirit and life. Life is not static but is constantly undergoing changes. The cells are being reformed, renewed, and transformed. That happens to us too as we continually read the Word of God. Since it is alive, we will be transformed and renewed all the time.
Rom 12:2 encourage us to let ourselves be renewed through the way we think. People of this world (= who has not receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour) easily jump into negative conclusions, easily (maybe unconsciously) following the famous Jantelagen where you think less of yourself and have no self-esteem. They follow the lust of the eyes, i.e. follow the feeling for the moment, take rash decisions, easily let go of their moral principles as soon as something more appealing shows up. It is described in 1 John 2:15-17.
If the Bible will be of help to us to live a life according to the will of God and not according to the world, then we need to get to know it. To get to know the people described in it. Their daily life experiences and situations are written down for us to gain knowledge from it, both from their mistakes and from their successes. The law, prophesies, psalms, proverbs, advises, commandments, all kinds of events etc are a precious treasure to us from God. A living Word that has a great impact in our lives.
In Proverbs 31:10-31 the Bible speaks about an extraordinary woman, a woman of excellence. She should be a role model for life for us women! I believe God has given us this name for our meetings because He wants us to know who we are before Him, what capacity we have because of having Jesus in our lives. (Phil 4:13) Everything is possible for the one who believes, Jesus says in Mark 9:23. Believe in what? In the weather report? The news papers? Mummy? No! Believing that everything Jesus says is true. So when He says we can do something we can do it, in Him and through Him. Everything He wants us to do we can do!
This woman in Proverbs has a great CV. The loving attitude she has towards her family, servants and friends can only come from an unselfish mind, to always consider others first. Read about this love in 1 Cor 13. This woman is not only a role model for married women but for every woman, for all ages. Let us read her story and see what we can learn from her life.
Ø Her husband trusts her and he lacks nothing. She can keep secrets and does not gossip. She is fore-sighted and supports her husband.
Ø She treats him very well, never does anything to harm him. She keeps her temper even if she feels she has been misunderstood. She has her husband’s best interest at sight even if it means that she has to put aside her own needs and wishes for his sake.
Ø She has an eye for quality and is diligent. That takes a lot when one feels like relaxing and takes it easy, maybe on front of the TV.
Ø She is a business woman, travels, and does merchandises.
Ø She rises up very early, while it is still dark. It takes self-discipline to do that, if you’re not a morning person. She makes good use of the hours she has.
Ø She supplies food for her household, her family, and everyone who works for her. Jesus says that man should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4). So it is about spiritual food as well. We can provide our household, our children and employees word from God. As mothers we shall help our children to get to know God. (Proverbs 22:6). To be able to do that we ourselves need to have a close relationship with God because what you do not have you can not give. It can involve going up very early to be able to have a moment alone with Jesus.
Ø She plans, plants, invests and profits.
Ø She is physically strong, probably doing exercise.
Ø She is watchful, doesn’t let her lamp go out in the night. We are to be watchful too, since our enemy the devil is not at all rejoicing over us but instead wants to do everything possible to steal, kill and destroy. (1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10).
Ø She is a dressmaker and lithe with her hands.
Ø House open to guests, cares for the needy, open her arms for the poor.
Ø She makes sure her household has clothes. Scarlet is the same colour as blood red. As a woman living in the New Testament we are protected in the blood of Jesus.
Ø When it comes to her appearance, when dresses without blame. She dresses beautifully but not provocative or seducing. Her clothing is also good deeds as you can read in 1 Tim 2:9.
Ø There is a saying: “Behind a successful man is a woman”. Women can also be successful, as we have seen that this woman is in many ways. She also supports her husband in a manner that makes him successful too. To sit among the elders means that he has a high position in the society. Spiritually, we have a high position in Christ. Ef 2:6 speaks about this. Jesus has conquered Satan and has given us the power to bind and to loose. (Matt 16:18-19).
Ø She produces fabrics and sells belts. In Ef 6:10-18 it speaks about another type of belt, the belt of Truth. We need to be watchful to always speak the truth.
Ø She doesn’t loose control but is full of strength, patience, joy and wisdom and is happily sharing this with others. She uses her tongue to bring life, word of life to her household and to others around her.
Ø The people closest to her appreciate her and blesses her. They know how she is in private and they can see the fruits of the Spirit in her (Gal5:22-23). She doesn’t pretend, having one God-fearing attitude/behaviour in church and different one at home.
Ø She fears the Lord. It means that she doesn’t do everything because she loves and honours her God. She won’t do anything contrary to His will. She also has great respect for Him. He is Almighty God, Omniscience God and Omnipresent God. He is worthy to be feared.
Ø She gets blessed in return for everything she has done.
In verse 29 it says that many women have done many wonderful things before her, but this woman superseedes them all. Remember all the women before her mentioned in the Bible; Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Ruth, Ester, Hilda, Abigail, Deborah etc. It is truly great words of recommendation from God to her. We have an amazing role model in her, she almost appears perfect. We might feel that we can not really meet up to all this. Remember the words of Jesus to us, that we shall be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matt 5:48). That seems even more difficult! It means that it should be our aim and goal, and keep on working towards it. Like cutting a full-lead crystal, clean out sin from our lives and then stay away from sin, let the Word of God richly dwell in us. = Sanctification. To let the life of God through His word, the Bible, conform and transform us to be more like Him. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Life (three name of the same Spirit) shall help us with this. (1 Thess 5:23). We are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is our first and foremost role model. (Hebr 12:2) He is the way the truth and the life!
Remain blessed, beloved Women of Excellence! Looking forward to meeting al of you in our next gathering at Gospelkyrkan, Uppsala, Sweden!
Sincerely,
Merete Adegunle,
Ambassador for Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:20)
