SHE IS LIKE A SHIP! Proverbs 31:14

"She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar."
Proverbs 31:14

PURPOSE AND MOTIVATION
As I was pondering over this verse, I decided to ask my husband, Michael, what comes to mind when I mention the words, " A ship of a merchant". He quickly replied, a large thing that carries nice things. Great, I thought. Was this what King Lemeul's mother was implying? The ideal woman is just a thing which just carries things home from far places. I had to have a laugh at this comment as I had similar thoughts. I find it strange that the Queen refers to a Godly woman as a ship!

I would dare to say that she was not referring to the appearance of the ship or the mere function to just carry things from one place to another but to the purpose of the ship.

The purpose of the ship was to travel far to get the best of the best in a vast array of different merchandise. The second part of verse 14 focuses on food. So King Lemeul's mother was simply meaning that she would travel far and wide to purchase the best food for her family, and to bring it home! Her motivation for going to great lengths is out of love for the Lord and for her family.

HER DESIRE
Lets look at the desire of this Godly woman. It is to ensure that her family is properly cared for with the best that she can manage with the abilities that the Lord has given to her.

In regard to food. I find it a very important point that as a wife, we are to not become "boring" with our food menus, and allow our food making to be a slap dash thing. A diligent woman will go to great lengths to please her husband and children with the best food that she can buy or make.

In order to do this, a diligent woman will search for the best recipes and will learn how to cook according to her ability. Not all of us are Nigella Lawson! She would make food that would please the tastes of her husband and she would also provide food which will be healthy and beneficial to the families health. We have lots to learn in the area of food so use as many resources as possible. We also have to be careful that food does not become and idol, it can easily happen. The goal for us should still remain to feed our families in a healthy way so they do not starve to death but have physical strength to serve the Lord.

THE BEST FOR FAMILY FIRST
We must also keep in mind that we must make serving our families with the best food our priority. Most of us can easily fall into the trap of saving the best food for when visitors come. When we do this we are choosing to please others over our dear husbands and children. This will certainly not leave our family feeling specially cared for. Make your family special dishes of food and then let the visitors share it with your family. When showing hospitality, a member in your family shouldn't be able to guess that you are having guests over for dinner because you are doing something special that you never do for your family!

STICK TO YOUR BUDGET AND BE REALISTIC AND WISE
It is also good to remember that there are more families in the world that live off potatoes, corn and water. I do not think this verse means for us to go out and to splash out all our grocery money on a few pieces of saffron from the next town and fillet steak from another, unless we can afford it! I would think that it is the quality of the food that she searches for at the best price. So if you can only afford to buy potatoes, then let them be the best potatoes that is in your price range!

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD
There are many accounts in the bible which are centered on food. For example the Lords supper, can you think of other examples? Food is an important part of our lives and must not be looked over. In Europe, meal times are big events. It is a time when the family and others gather together and talk. As wives and mothers it is important of us to provide meals where our family and guest can gather around and have fellowship. Its a wonderful opportunity to discuss the days events and teach our children Gods ways in those events.

Let us be woman who use the gift of food to bring glory to God!


Ver. 14: She is like the merchants’ ships. She is like them in that she extends her operations beyond her own immediate neighbourhood, and bringeth her food from afar, buying in the best markets and on advantageous terms, without regard to distance, and being always on the look out to make honest profit. Septuagint, “She is like a ship trading from a distance, and she herself gathereth her livelihood.” The expressions in the text point to active commercial operations by sea as well as land, such as we know to have been undertaken by Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and others (1 Kings 9:26; 22:48), and such as the Hebrews must have noticed in the Phœnician cities, Sidon and Tyre. (Source: The Pulpit Commentary: Proverbs)

HEART PROBING (1)

1. In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is personified as an enterprising woman. What efforts do these verses picture?
*Proverbs 9:1-2
*Proverbs 14:1
*Proverbs 24:3-4
*Proverbs 31:27
2.Her provision - Both the merchant hips and this enterprising woman transported items "from afar". However, whereas a ship brings its cargo toward a port, God's enterprising woman brings hers toward home. What kinds of cargo?
In verse 13, this lady actively sought ___________________________
In verse 14, she seeks__________________________________________
Using your dictionary, jot down a working definition of the word enterprising:
3.Her enterprising spirit - Other women in the Bible show us the treasure of an enterprising spirit. What energetic and enterprising qualities do you witness in:
Rebekah in Genesis 24:15-20?
Rachel in Genesis 29:9?
Ruth in Ruth 2:2-3 and 17-18
4. Think about the image of a sailing ship and of a "sailing" woman as she runs her daily errands. What do you think "puts the wind in her sails" as she runs to and fro to gather up goods?
5. Are there any course adjustments you need to make in the set of your "sails" that would help you to better follow in the wake of this godly woman in the areas of energy, eagerness, and enterprise? Please explain your answer.
6. God's proverbs 31 homemaker brought food from afar for her family and household. In her mind and heart the effort was obviously worth it... and it should be for us too! I remember reading a book that recommended tat you and I prepare as much of the evening meal as possible first thing in the morning. The wise author suggested that women make this #1 way of serving their family #1 on the daily to-do list. How do you think such a practice would help you to better provide food for your family? And how do you think it might better the quality of the food and dinners you serve?
7. In your opinion and from your own experience as a homemaker, what might some of the character qualities be that produce the enterprising efforts like those revealed in the Proverbs 31 woman?
8. Married or single, make a list of your daily duties and responsibilities. What is your current attitude toward those duties and responsibilities? Please be honest.
9.Now, how can you take a page out of God's enterprising woman's book and improve your attitude? Also list any favorite scriptures that can assist you.
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Source: (1) Discovering the Treasures of a Godly woman by Elizabeth George

Written By: Natalie Rogers