SHE 31 - Woman Of ValourНамуна

“She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world but you surpass them!”

The writer of Proverbs 31 makes no explicit reference to the woman’s neighbours or any interactions that she may have with them. These are gaps that we can discuss and creatively fill in, based on this woman’s beautiful character. 

Consider: A good neighbour?

The Proverbs 31 woman’s character speaks for itself. Each of us is one whole person. We are not split up into many parts - we are whole. We may be mothers, wives, daughters, leaders, volunteers, workers, girlfriends, students or pastors but we are all of these things and each of these things all at once. I don’t stop being a daughter when I’m a worker at my office. I don’t stop being a girlfriend when I am leading at SHE (our monthly women’s meetings in Freedom Church). I don’t stop being a volunteer when I am spending time with my family. And it’s the same with character. Because of the noble, kind, loving, hardworking, dignified, strong, diligent, compassionate, joyful and selfless character of this woman, it is fair to assume that she would know and be known by her neighbours. Because her life is an overflow of her character. 

Context: Why bother?

We lead busy lives and know many people. You may be asking, “what the big deal with knowing your neighbours?”

1. We love because we were loved first. We are able to show love because Love paid the ultimate price for us. We are called and commissioned to be Jesus to those around us.
2. There is purpose in where you have been placed. We need to get vision for the area in which we live and the people that God has placed around us. 
3. The Bible says “Go and make disciples of all nations” - your nation is your street, your apartment block, your cul-de-sac. You may be the only person that will ever show the love of Jesus to that particular neighbour.
4. It’s not about you. It’s about the salvation that only Jesus can bring. If He can do it for you then He can do it for your neighbours. 

Over to you: Ask yourself…..

• Do you know your neighbours? If not, how can you change that?
• What one thing can you do this week to show your neighbours the love of Jesus?