Wisdom for Today – Wise Words from Mom – Proverbs 31

1.  Remember who you are… abandon distractions.

Proverbs 31: ¹The words of King Lemuel, which his mother taught him:  ²What, my son? What, son who came from within me? What, son of my promises? ³ Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink. ⁵ Or they might drink and forget the law, and go against the rights of all who are suffering.

• First – The King’s mother speaks to him about making the right decision when it comes to your ways. The wisdom is that such behaviour destroys rulers.
• Second – she speaks to him about things that would diminish one’s mental capacity.

When we don’t have a firm sense of our identity in Christ, we can easily be distracted and led astray.

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a)

“Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:7)

“For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26)

2. We’re called to care for those in need. 

Proverbs 31:8  ^“Open your mouth for those who cannot speak, and for the rights of those who are left without help. ⁹ Open your mouth. Be right and fair in what you decide. Stand up for the rights of those who are suffering and in need.”

The passage also tells us for whom we are to speak up and act in defense. There are 3 groups mentioned for whom we should be advocates.

• The first group that King Lemuel’s mother describes is “those who cannot speak for themselves.” There are people that have no voice. There are people that cannot defend themselves. We should speak for them.
• The second group that King Lemuel’s mother describes is “all who are destitute.” The picture we get is someone who has lost absolutely everything. Someone who is destitute is someone who has endured unfortunate destruction in their lives and is afflicted through no fault of their own.
• The third group that King Lemuel’s mother describes are the “poor and needy.” If anyone is poor, needy, lowly, weak, or abused, those are the people to whom we should give our attention.

Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”

Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Zechariah 7:10 “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’”