Proverbs 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her
hands hold the distaff.
The spindle winds the wool and the distaff
prevents it from getting tangled up as I understand it. These are components
used in making clothing and blankets. The virtuous woman or wife applies
herself to that work diligently. Of course, we buy most of our garments at a
store these days. But there was a time not long ago when many families made
their own clothing. The thing that Matthew Henry commented about the virtuous
woman with this verse was that she did not regard this work as beneath her.
A representation for the church might be that
the church doesn’t regard its work as demeaning. Whatever your function is
within the body of Christ you should be pleased to do it, serving Christ. For
those who worship in a building set apart for that purpose whether you clean
the toilets or cut the grass you are doing a good work. If you worship in a
home as they did in the first century then any help you lend is worthy. The
person who cares for the babies is no less than the person preaching the
sermon. We are all members of the body of Christ.
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of
the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing
in the knowledge of God;
By taking this application for this specific
verse I am drawn to these verses written by Paul with the wisdom given to him
by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 3:15).
1 Corinthians 12:12 ¶ For as the body is one,
and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are
one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been
all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is
it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the
eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole
body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were
the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the
body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were
the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye
cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the
feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which
seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which
we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and
our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have
no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour
to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but
that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one
member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all
the members rejoice with it.
Proverbs
31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her
hands to the needy.
I don’t think there is any question of
what the church’s position should be toward the poor either in the church or in
the world. I used to belong to a church that had a Deacon’s Pantry full of
canned food and other items for the benefit of emergency help when called upon.
They also had an account at a local grocery store for trusted church members
who were going through rough times. I can remember loading up an employee at
the warehouse where I worked with food for her and her children after her
husband had left her and cleaned out their bank account.
The church is called to do good works
to all people, but especially to the members of the church.....
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith.
Notice the direction of this verse.
The church doesn’t wait for the poor to come to her. She reaches out to them;
to the poor and needy. In other words, the church looks for opportunities for
service. The church goes to where the poor are. Obviously, there is little need
to help people who are receiving help from the government. But there are many
elderly people struggling to survive who often have to choose between much
needed medicine or food. We should be reaching out to them. There are two
conditions for help within the church. One is that if a person has a family in
the church they should be the ones helping them first.
1Timothy 5:16 If any man or woman that
believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be
charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed..
The person in need must be willing to
work when work is available.
2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we
were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither
should he eat..
This verse can also have a spiritual
application toward the church reaching out to the spiritually hungry. Remember
the Sermon on the Mount admonition in Matthew 5:3?.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. .
Now reach back into Isaiah.
Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath
mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man
will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth
at my word. .
Now further back into the Psalms.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them
that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm
51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart,
O God, thou wilt not despise. .
It is also these poor whom the church
must reach out her hands to, those whose spirits are broken, whose hearts are
weeping, who are ready to receive Christ and be saved. The church feeds the
hungry in body and the hungry in spirit. Or the church might just be a social
club or a political action committee. If the latter is all it is then it is not
a church modeled on God’s standards.
No comments:
Post a Comment