Are You Worth More Than Rubies?

Disclaimer: This post is strictly for the ladies....

    "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." -Proverbs 31:10

    I have heard this verse many times and I have to wonder, why rubies? Then I did a little research. I found out a ruby is one of the most precious and valuable gemstones. So how is a woman more valuable than rubies?

    If you have not read through Proverbs 31, I highly recommend it. This morning, my small group and I really dug into what the Proverbs 31 woman looks like. Going through this passage can be a bit intimidating. The woman described in Proverbs 31 seems like the perfect woman. I found myself thinking "is this even possible to achieve?"

    "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplied the merchant with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." -Proverbs 31:20-26

   Are you kidding me? This woman is perfect? Does God call me to be a perfect woman? No, he does not. God does however give us guidelines to follow. These guidelines can be overwhelming at first glance. This woman had no fear, she was respected by not only the city, but her children and her husband. In all her "free time" she made linen garments and sold them. She seemed perfect. But I had to remind myself, the woman described in Proverbs 31 was not always this woman. Being a woman of noble character is not something you just become in a day. As I read through this passage more and more, I realized to become this woman takes work. It takes complete trust and faith on God.

    Proverbs 31 describes a woman who seems perfect. But we all have our trials. We all have times that things are not perfect. One thing I am confident of is that this woman looked to God in all of her trials and tribulations. I know that is the woman God calls me to be.

    So what does it mean to be worth more than rubies? To be rare, to be precious and to be valuable. To be a woman of the world is nothing like the Proverbs 31 woman.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." -Proverbs 31:30

Are you a woman who fears the Lord? Are you a rare gem? If you have not read through Proverbs 31, I think you should. And challenge yourself to become more like the Proverbs 31 woman. I will be praying that you have the strength and perseverance to become more like her. But remember, without God, it is just not possible.

   

Blessed Opportunity

    A couple of months ago, I felt God telling me to start a small group one morning a week. All I could think was "God, I am already so busy. How on earth am I going to have time to start this study and make it successful?" God simply said, "You are going to make time." Simple as that, huh?

    I had so many concerns. The biggest was, what 8th grade girl is going to want to get up on a school day to meet at 7 in the morning? To my surprise, more than I thought. 

    Today was our first meeting and 4 girls showed up along with one of my friends who is also a leader. I am not sure if they could tell, but I was so excited that they were coming to hang out with their small group leader to talk about God. 

    Every Wednesday evening during youth group, I am amazed at their passion for the Lord. When I was their age, I didn't have any friends who loved and understood God the way they do. I am so thankful God chose me to be their leader. I am excited to see where He will take this study and the impact it will have on all of us. 

    I know it will not always be easy to get up every Tuesday. But what I do know is that God has called me to pour into the lives of these girls. Mark 10:45 tells us "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." If my Saviour was a servant and I am supposed to live a life that is pleasing to God, I am going to serve with all I have. 

    I read a blog yesterday by someone I consider a mentor. She spoke about tithing not just our money, but our time. One hour every Tuesday may not be a lot of time to tithe, but hey, it's a start. It may even get us all in the habit of tithing our time to God more often.

    I wonder if these girls know what an impact they have made on my life. They encourage me to be the very best leader I can be. To serve God regularly and be a positive influence on them. If I have learned one thing by being their leader this year, it is, only good comes from serving God and pouring into the lives of others. I am blessed.