Saturday, February 12, 2011

A "Lovizzle-Comment-Inspired" P31W Post!!!

People, this is why I love feedback on my posts. If you don't agree, or having something to add, correct or can offer a different view, I want to hear about it. Things (especially in the Bible) aren't always so black and white. We often had to scratch our heads and wonder "What in the world?" And other Christians have better insight than me a lot of times (or most of the time. :D I'm glad for that though). I was so happy because a fellow blogger, LoVizzle, left a really awesome comment on one of my posts that provoked a lot of thought in my mind and offered a great way to look at a verse. He's got a great blog, btw...check it out. Letters From LoVizzle

We are trying to learn about the Proverbs 31 Woman and were looking at verse 11 that says, "He has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." 

LoVizzle brought a great thought about it. Here's what he said. "From a guy's standpoint, I had always seen that verse as talking about the man. The new NIV says, "Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." In order to grasp what we're dealing with, this sentence can be broken down to "Her husband lacks nothing of value." I guess it could be saying that her husband has her to value (which is true, remembering the previous verse about rubies!). But I think this one is about the husband, which means the verse is saying that a "wife of noble character" will have a great, awesome husband. Think about how true that is: Have you ever seen an amazing woman marry a scumbag, drug-dealer, or lowlife? No! Any wise, noble, trustworthy, pure, intelligent, loving, kind, valuable woman would want to marry the cream of the crop, right? That's the only thing that makes sense to me. I don't see a P31W falling in love with a drunkard, jerk, abusive man. I see P31Ws falling in love with loving, selfless, strong (yet sensitive), determined, trustworthy, righteous, pure, wise man of integrity. I think that's what it means."

I think that is really good application to that verse. So, that holds a lot of value for the girls and the guys. Girls, I know, I do it too, but we often freak out over guys that in reality, would not make good husbands. We are not supposed to play with hearts and if we aren't looking at someone as a potential marriage partner, then we don't need to be in relationships (well, deeper than friendship anyways) with them. That's hard to hear, but think about it: Life is not about seeing how many guys we can be in a relationship with, but rather to save our whole hearts for that special someone. So I believe its important to KNOW what we want to see in a guy. What is important for YOU to see in a husband? I was challenged to make a list of those things by Dannah Gresh in "The Bride Wore White." She said, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it." Know what you want in a husband, not a boyfriend, and only  look into guys like that for potential husbands. (And this is for girls ready for that, unlike me. I need some time being single.) Actually, between us, it can be kinda fun looking at guys' character. DISCLAIMER: This does not mean to judge the guys, by any means. We aren't called to judge anyone. And it doesn't mean if they are lacking in one area that we scratch them off the list (because time changes people - whaddaya know?)  It also doesn't mean that we shouldn't invest any time in the "not perfect guys" because you will live a guy-less life until you die at age 1,000 if you do. And this ALSO doesn't mean that every guy who shows potential you should hear "wedding bells" about, either. God knows who that man in your life is going to be, so you don't have to worry. I'm just encouraging you girls not to date someone you wouldn't marry. 

Okay, now about the guys. *evil glares* There is a lot I could say right now, but I'll refrain. Lol. I do want to briefly want to say a few things that are great to see in a guy, but I'll make it brief. You boys should learn from other boys, not girls. But I'll name a few things that I feel like is so lacking in the world of Christian men and all girls wish to see.

Be leaders. Please, be leaders. Don't wait for a girl to volunteer to pray, be the one to help out with a project, be the one to encourage others in the Lord. Sadly, I know so many more girls like that than guys. A bunch of people complain about how girls are taking over, but I can't help but think, "I agree, but the guys have let it happen..."

Spur Godly convos. I'm telling ya. You want a Christian girl to turn her head? Having the confidence to talk about Christ, your weaknesses, and life (deeper than ESPN, which girls totally don't care about) is something a lot of guys miss.

Watch your mouth. When a guy can go without being negative of other people, or saying something perverted, or being disrespectful...I'm impressed. The Bible says that the tongue is a bridle for the whole body. If you learn to direct it, it will change your life. THAT'S SO COOL!!

I'll stop there. EDIT: I realized this may sound brutal on you guys. I don't mean for it to be. We are truly appreciative of Godly men and I know many who are such an inspiration to me. Just thought I'd clear that up.

LoVizzle, thanks so much for "inspiring" this post, and thanks for being so faithful to read my posts and give great feedback!!!

7 comments:

Logan Vaughan said...

Great post! I definately agree: guys aren't perfect. Of the listed issues, I enjoy sarcasm the most. My best friend and I are good at sarcastic arguments, not really tearing each other down, just about random stuff and putting words into each others mouths. Its fun, but some girls just shake their heads at us.

And I found a totally kicking Proverb earlier about wives, so be on the lookout for a post about it by tomorrow night :)

Ashley said...

Ah, I know what you mean. Actually, my best friend and I are sarcasm Queens. We do it just to make fun of each other but I think its okay IF people know you are joking. Some people I have known used sarcasm as a second language and I didn't know how to react because I didn't know if they were serious. That's not good. But, for fun, to make others laugh I think it's great humor - so long as no one is being torn down. Just to clear that.

YAY! Haha...totally kicking...I don't think I've heard that term before. I can't wait to read it!!

Logan Vaughan said...

I'm so tired... ugh. It'll be up by tomorrow night, guaranteed :)

Ashley said...

Haha, sleep first definitely. But I'll be waiting. *cheesy grin*

Logan Vaughan said...

It's up :) I have soooo many other awesome verses about wives and prudence and wisdom to post about, but that post was long enough. Check it out!

Ashley said...

*nod* Will do!

Felipe Gama said...

I had written a long insightful comment about how according to your post I'm up for some serious trouble in the wife department in the future.

Then I read the comments, and noticed you two talking about sarcasm.

You mentioned the problem that comes with people using sarcasm as a second language.

That made me stop and completely reconsider everything I had written before.

Not only that, but it actually made me reconsider what I wrote after that as well.

From the time when I read the comments about sarcasm to the moment I submitted this comment, it has taken over 1 whole hour (this was the last part I typed btw, I edited this so much it's not in cronological order anymore).

Now, sarcasm is not a second language to me, it's the first, simple as that. It's amazingly fun to me of course, I get to amuze myself with everything I say, write or even think, and I'm pretty good at it so that it can actually be amuzing to others as well.

But I see what you mean, I do that so much that I've notice people don't have the slightest clue when I'm being serious anymore, or even worse, sometimes even I don't know that. Mostly I only noticed I actually seriously care about something when I get angry about it.

Now, you may be wondering, what was the whole point of this comment?

I do not know, as I said earlier in the post, I've just spent over an hour thinking this over and writing this.

I'm not sure how this relates to the original topic, nor do I provide a point or a conclusion to my thoughts, but since your writing has caused me to do all of this, I thought I might as well send it.

Actually, I think I got a conclusion. As fun and pleasant to my tranquility loving and conflict despising self this life through sarcasm may be, there are things in life that require us to tackle them with all seriousness, and at least for use at those times, I must relearn/learn how to analize and present what I truly believe, and not just a safer witty highly altered version of it.

It's tough though, I can still see/sense some bits of sarcasm all throughout the text, even when I tried hard to take all of it away.