YvetteWithJoy
On break
Here are my thoughts about this weeks scripture in terms of the blog post that discussed it . . .
So, I have mentioned this before on the forum, but I grew up around INADVERTENTLY harmful christians who used fear, anxiety, worry, condemnation, judgment, scripture, guilt, legalism, and stress to keep church members worried and attentive. All of these things were weaponized. "Christianity" was thus weaponized, since that was all I knew of christianity. I don't think it was malicious, but it has affected me deeply and been a huge challenge in my life.
So, I am certain the blog author didn't write it this way and that it is partially that upbringing of mine that causes me to feel this way but . . . I find the verse so freeing and encouraging, but only DESPITE how she wrote about it.
I like her, but she blogged the following about this verse, which is from Proverbs 31, the "virtuous woman," uplifting proverbs:
So, I am certain the blog author didn't write it this way and that it is partially that upbringing of mine that causes me to feel this way but . . . I find the verse so freeing and encouraging, but only DESPITE how she wrote about it.
I like her, but she blogged the following about this verse, which is from Proverbs 31, the "virtuous woman," uplifting proverbs:
‘Give her of the fruit of her hand’. What if she didn’t do so well, what does she get? ‘Give her of the fruit of her hands’, not her mother’s hand, or her sister’s hand, not even her friend’s hand. ‘Give her of the fruit of her hands’, not one hand, but two. What if she wasted her time? What if she didn’t use her time wisely? Will she reap nothing? ‘Let her OWN works praise her in the gates!’ What does that mean? . . .
‘Give her of the fruit of her hands’, that’s a pretty scary verse, isn’t it? What if she does badly? What if she was mean? What If she lived life carelessly? What if she lived in her world, caring very little for those around her, in fact hardly noticing them? ‘Give her the fruit of her hands’. Will she ‘reap then, what she sows’?
Wow! I had better remember that, Lord. I can’t hide behind my family name, I can’t hide behind the works of my husband, or even that of my children. What did I do with my time? Did I make it profitable? Did I serve my King well? ‘Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates’.. Let’s live life well.
‘Give her of the fruit of her hands’, that’s a pretty scary verse, isn’t it? What if she does badly? What if she was mean? What If she lived life carelessly? What if she lived in her world, caring very little for those around her, in fact hardly noticing them? ‘Give her the fruit of her hands’. Will she ‘reap then, what she sows’?
Wow! I had better remember that, Lord. I can’t hide behind my family name, I can’t hide behind the works of my husband, or even that of my children. What did I do with my time? Did I make it profitable? Did I serve my King well? ‘Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates’.. Let’s live life well.
So, basically, she saw in that verse "I reap what I sow? Oh, no!!!
"And I saw, "I reap what I sow?!!! Yes!!!!!!!! I have permission to sow, reap, and enjoy the just rewards without feeling like that is being earthly minded, carnal minded, a worshipper of money/mammon, etc. I am being encouraged to be wisely industrious and not just be a supporter of everyone else's endeavors but to have my own endeavors and to enjoy doing well with them."
I don't know about you all, but sometimes I spend so much time concerned about the children's success and resultant feelings, the husband's, my male sibling . . . sometimes it's hard to find that balance, be about my endeavors and ministry, etc.
Also, sometimes instead of focusing on my race, I look at others who may be getting their dreams faster, had less to learn or overcome, made fewer mistakes, had better support, etc.
So when the scripture said, "Let her OWN WORKS praise her," I thought "Not just the piggy back works of my husband's or children's that I have a big part in . . . but this is for ME. I get to have my things, too. Guilt free. Aaaaaaand the just rewards are to be enjoyed guilt free. So, Yvette, stop looking at others' faster or better whatever.
Yes, "Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates!!!" Lord, I will work smartly, wisely, and joyfully, knowing that you want me to be given the fruits of my hands! Thank you for my "hands," Father! You're such a good, good Father! Bless our hands and keep our hearts in love with You more than even the just gifts you want us to have and to bless others with.
That was my take. I got so much encouragement and inspiration and freedom from that verse.
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Perhaps she wanted to emphasize the scripture by saying, basically, "Take this scripture seriously, because you are RESPONSIBLE if you are to get any fruits of your labor. So don't mess up!!"
There is healthy fear, but I am super sensitive to the infusion of fear into things, especially scripture.
