A Competent Wife/Woman-6 Series

A COMPETENT WIFE-part 6—Proverbs 31:10-31

Attention:

Competence is something needed in all areas of life.

Every grade school, collegiate or professional sport demands competence.

Fishing—Every successful tournament demands competence on the part of the fishermen/women.

Boat Pilots—Every successful sea captain must exhibit competence in piloting skills in order to accomplish the task consistently & meaningfully.

The writer of Proverbs detailed a successful marriage from the standpoint of a competent wife.

A wife’s competence completes a successful marriage.

Who is a competent wife?

What makes/characterizes a competent wife?

Competent—1)“Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully; 2)Efficient & capable.

*There is no higher calling for a wife/woman than to be ‘competent’ in Christ Jesus!

We have found previously that

A competent wife/woman Competently...

1. Is RARE & PRECIOUS(:10)

2. COMMITS(:11-12)

3. PROVIDES(:13-15)

4. PREMEDITATES(:16)

5. Is STRONG(:17)

6. Is INVOLVED(:18-19)

7. Is COMPASSIONATE & GENEROUS(:20)

8. CLOTHES(:21-22)

9. MARRIES(:23)

10—A competent wife/woman...

Competently NETWORKS(:24)

Explanation:(:24)

:24—“She makes linen garments & sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.”

The virtuous woman/wife indeed fashions(“makes”) “garments” of “linen” not only for her family, but selling the excess for a profit!

She specifically provides or makes & sells(implied) girders/belts for those merchants whom she has contact with thru her trading. She has a network of people thru whom she sells her wares.

:14—“She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.”

:16—“She considers a field & buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.”

:20—“She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.”

:23—“Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.”

Hers is NOT a network selfishly maintained as some businessmen maintain their contact list!...Who join churches & civic clubs just to increase their profits. What this woman does is put opportunity to use among those she knows closely & distantly who hold something in common...need & supply.

“Makes”(See :22)—hse aw-saw'—Qal Perfect—1) To do, fashion, accomplish, make. Strong—a primitive root; To do or make, in the broadest sense & widest application.

“Linen garments”(See :22—vv)—Nydo saw-deeyn'—1) Linen wrapper—1a) Rectangular piece of fine linen worn as outer, or at night, as a sole garment. Strong—from an unused root meaning to envelop; A wrapper, i.e. Shirt. Used 4X.

“Sells”—rkm maw-kar’—Qal Imperfect—1) To sell. Strong—a primitive root; To sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively--To surrender.

“Supplies”(See :15, 31,—“Provides/Gives”)—Ntn naw-than’—Qal Perfect—1) To give, put, set—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend, 1a2) To put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate, 1a3) To make, constitute. Strong—a primitive root; To give, used with greatest latitude of application(put, make, etc.).

“Sashes”—rwgx khaw-gowr’—Noun Masc.—1) Clothed, girded, girt. Strong—from rgx[See :17—“Girds”]; Belted. Used 4X.

“Merchants”—ynenk ken-ah-an-eey'—Canaanite = see Cana “zealous"—Adj.—1) descendant of inhabitant of Canaan. Noun—; 2) Descendant or inhabitant of Canaan; 3) A merchant, trader. Strong—A Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication--A pedlar(the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans).

Argumentation:

1Cor. 7:29-31—“But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, & those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.”

Mat. 10:1-16—“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, & to heal all kinds of sickness & all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, & Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, & John his brother; Philip & Bartholomew; Thomas & Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, & Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, & Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out & commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, & do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, & stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom & Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents & harmless as doves.”