The Fruit of God's Spirit and Proverbs 31

Today I'd like to share some thoughts on the "Fruit of the Spirit", Galatians 5:22, 23, and the "Proverbs 31 Woman", Proverbs 31:10-31. Hang in there with me, I believe that God gave me these thoughts almost a year ago, but I've not been able to put them down in writing before, but now I am attempting to pass them along to you with God's guidance.

Read through these Scripture portions as we consider them together.
These verses from Proverbs 31 can be an encouragement and also a challenge to us. As I look at the Proverbs 31 wife (woman) from time to time, I am encouraged to see that God is working some of these qualities into my life. Also, over the years I have been challenged by these verses to continue walking in faithfulness to the Lord and to my husband, family, and friends. But the question is, "How?" The answer seems to have a correlation to the Fruit of God's Spirit being produced in my, in our, beings ~~ our countenance, our manner, our words, our attitude, our motives, our life...

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (HCSB)

10 Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her servants.
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
17 She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.
22 She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and loving instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.
28 Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 "Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!"
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor
and let her works praise her at the city gates.1 (HCSB)

Verses 11 - 12, reveal how the fruit of "love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control" can produce trust and bring "goodness" to the husband; good and not evil to the lives that we touch, and particularly those we love.

Looking at verses 13 - 22, we find that generally we might not be required to do most of these things anymore as wives, women, and mothers, but we do have chores that would be the equivalent. Such as shopping wisely for clothing and food, preparing meals for our family, considering prayerfully household needs, and/or large household purchases. The fruit of "love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control" also are needed in these everyday tasks that we face.

Verse 23 says, "Her husband is known at the city gates" and "he sits among the elders of the land." Sounds like he doesn't do much, right? But this really indicates that he is a prominent business man. The city gates were where the city business was conducted. Revisit the story from the book of Ruth concerning Boaz seeking to become Ruth's redeemer/husband.

Verse 24 indicates that she was also involved in the business of making and selling items of clothing to the merchants. It seems there was "goodness" in the relationships they both have with others in the workplace and community. What opportunities does God give each of us to demonstrate "goodness" in our relationships and in our community with others?

The fruit of "faith" is described in verse 25, that she is clothed with "strength and honor" and is not afraid of what might come in the future, "can laugh at the time to come." Verses 20 and 21 also indicate that she reaches out to the needy and the poor as well as taking care of the needs of her own family, not fearing for the time of winter, or hardship, but has been faithfully trusting God to meet these needs as they come.

"Kindness, gentleness and goodness" are demonstrated in verse 26, "she opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue." She gives good counsel to those with whom she speaks. "Self-control, joy and peace" are the fruit that blossoms through her supervision of "the activities of her household" and the productiveness of her life "which is never idle" (verse 27). In the busyness of our lives, do we stop to take time to focus on the joy and peace that God wants us to experience through the opportunities to minister to and bless others in various ways?

The final verses (28 - 31) reveal the reward, the blessings, and, yes, the fruit, resulting from the overflow of the "Fruit of the Spirit" from the life of "a woman who fears the Lord" as she is known and praised by her works, her children, and her husband.

The "fruit" produced from within, the "Fruit of God's Spirit" within us, is the fruit that will remain and be a blessing in the lives of others. And as with the fruit of an apple tree, the Fruit of the Spirit takes time to develop and mature in each of our lives; this is the "patience" part. But that fruit also is able to nourish others with the encouragement of "kindness, goodness, and gentleness", and to reproduce fruit after its own kind through discipleship ministry of "faith, joy, and love" to a new believer. Also, as with the apple tree there are times in our lives when the "fruit" is not so visible, and evident, but God is still at work teaching us and growing the fruit of "peace" and "self-control", as we learn to wait on His timing, and His Sovereignty, even in this area of our lives. Thinking of this, I'm reminded of the Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." The work and the "fruit" is His, not ours.

For this I am grateful and blessed......

DeEtta Marsh

DeEtta Marsh is presently serving as Women's Ministry Assistant P/T, and with her husband, Stan, as Coordinators for Families For Christ ministry to Colony of Mercy residents and wives, and Colony Graduate Couples. Serving the Lord on staff at America's KESWICK since summer 1995. Wife, mother, teacher, grandmother of 8, and great grandmother of 1.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

1 Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN; 2003; Bible Gateway.com