Realigning: Proverbs 31 Man

Realigning means changing one’s position or attitude. I read an article today entitled The Proverbs 31 Man. You can read it here. I laughed when I saw the title, but I was intrigued, so I read it. The author made some excellent points, and he is well within scripture (Galatians 3:28) to say both men and women can have that role. He lost his job during the 2008 Recession and had to redefine his purpose. Sometimes we have to shift our focus and change our position to adjust to our current season. His was a season of realigning. Some highlights from the article include:

1. Proverbs 31:14 ~ She is like the merchant ships [abounding with treasure]; she brings her [household’s] food from far away. He had to assume the role of chef and shopper. He creates dishes using exotic spices and different cooking techniques. 
2. Proverbs 31:15-16 ~ She rises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household; and assigns tasks to her maids. She considers a field before she buys or accepts it [expanding her business prudently]; with her profits, she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. He had to utilize what he had in his hand (2 Kings 4:2)  to start adding some income to the household. He turned a hobby into a striving business. Because many of his sales contacts were on the East Coast (opposite from him), he had to rise early to do business. 
3. Proverbs 31:23 ~ Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates when he sits among the elders of the land. Since he had no prospects and no job, his wife was now sitting at a place of honor at the city gates. She received consistent promotions in her job working for the city,  ensuring their financial stability.

He admits there are parts of being a Proverbs 31 woman that he cannot claim. Proverbs 31 is not meant as a checklist of accomplishments; rather, it is a celebration of virtues and obedience to God’s directive in our seasons of life. Whether male or female, trust God in your seasons as you seek to live out your purpose.