Scripture never changes.
The Bible is timeless and applicable to all generations from the beginning of the ages to the end of them. Because of this I can confidently turn to it time and time again throughout my life for instruction, counsel, memorization and meditation. Every time I will find a verse, passage or even an entire book applicable to my current season or trial in life. The truths written down in Scripture never change, so I can confidently apply these same truths to my brief life on this earth.
One specific passage that I am currently rediscovering is Proverbs 31:10-31. In my ESV Bible this section is titled "The Woman Who Fears the LORD." It is a beautiful, if not daunting, passage and has become the plumb line that I now try to hold up to myself regularly. It has become to me a checklist of disciplines that I need to make a regular and consistent practice in my own life.
Digging into this rich passage of Scripture, we can discover three key sections:
- Motivations (10-12)
- Disciplines (13-27)
- Blessings (28-31)
The motivations for becoming a woman who fears the Lord boil down to simply wanting to be a godly wife to my husband. The writer lists here that this woman is an excellent wife: she is a valuable asset to her husband, trustworthy, manages his finances well, seeks his good and makes a lifelong commitment to him. But in order to become an excellent wife, faithfully and consistently being these things, I must practice certain disciplines. While reading over these in my own personal devotion time, I started to notice the strong connection this list has to Biblical Homesteading and Prepared Living for me. So many of them focus on crafting, preparing, cooking, sewing, teaching and instructing - key elements of the homesteading and prepper lifestyle. And the blessings that come about by following these truths are what I, as a woman, desire most: a good relationship with my (future) children, the praise of my husband, spiritual beauty, tangible goods that I have crafted and a good reputation among my community.
But the core of it all is in the very title of the passage - a woman who fears the Lord. In order to be motivated, disciplined and blessed there must first be a relationship with the one who motivates, disciplines and blesses. Trying to do these things on my own, without the redeeming work of Christ, would be pointless and nigh impossible.
Dear friend, do not look upon this passage as a list of all the things you are getting wrong for that is not it's purpose. Look at it instead as the description of what you are becoming. The Lord does not leave any of His works unfinished and you are one of His greatest.
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