More than Rubies.

"Charm is deceptive,

and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD

is to be praised." 

                  - Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

Again, thank you for the reminder.

Women:  This means you. Do not worry about your outward appearance.  God stepped back from His creation and called it GOOD.  He loves you just as you are.  Furthermore, it issues a command to fear the Lord.  If your goal is to lure in a man with your beauty and charm, you are not the victim of a man's lust, but you share in the sin as the cause of it. If you fear that you will not be accepted by standing out, remember that only a man that will recognize your fear of the Lord and share in it is worth your commitment.

Men:  This means you too.  We must not push women to think that they must gain our approval with their looks.  Still give encouragement with compliments when they have (and even when they haven't) made an effort to look nice (while doing so modestly, yes it's very possible) but even more so this is demand to praise them when their fear of the Lord is evident.  Go out of your way to compliment women on their fear of the Lord.  Compliment for the joy on their face rather than the make up, and for the compassion in their heart rather than the clothes she wears.

מִנְחָה֙

man deviseth - Jahve directeth

"The heart of man deviseth his way;

But Jahve directeth his steps."

- Proverbs 16:9

"Similar to this is the German proverb: "Der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt" [ equals our "man proposes, God disposes"]; for, as Hitzig rightly remarks, 9b means, not that God maketh his steps firm  but that He gives direction to him. Man deliberates here and there (חשּׁב, intens. of חשׁב, to calculate, reflect) how he will begin and carry on this or that; but his short-sightedness leaves much out of view which God sees; his calculation does not comprehend many contingencies which God disposes of and man cannot foresee. The result and issue are thus of God, and the best is, that in all his deliberations one should give himself up without self-confidence and arrogance to the guidance of God, that one should do his duty and leave the rest, with humility and confidence, to God."

From the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

As a college student, planning to enter the all-feared "real world" soon, I feel that it would be a responsible choice to start becoming more critical of what I hear, and actually think about the state of things, rather than just letting life hit me.  As I listen to student speeches and casual conversation on campus, I feel like many students have twisted the meaning of Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."  Maybe it's not twisting, but a mere inconsistency.  We listen to the last part, but forget about the first.  The verse is not encouraging one to sit on his bum waiting for the Lord to direct his steps.  He is not even taking steps that could be directed.  Rather, one should be encouraged to take action, "grab life by the horns," dig in and make plans, "do his duty".  No, those plans will not always be exactly what God has in store.  However, as stated above, after calculation there is still much that is left out of our view.  This is where we do our duty humbly, and leave the rest to God, with confidence and peace knowing that God is in control.

מִנְחָה֙

My Zambian Brothers

These are the guys I spent my two weeks in Zambia living with. More stories from Zambia are to follow!!

מִנְחָה֙