She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
Proverbs 31:14
We are picking back up in our study of Proverbs 31 in verse 14. Remember that we aren’t just looking at Proverbs 31 as a guide for how to be a good woman or what to look for in a good woman, although it is beneficial for those uses. We are looking at Proverbs 31 as it applies to the entire church body as the bride of Christ!
Proverbs 31:14 points out that the woman of Proverbs 31 brings in food from far away locations.
Can you imagine how boring our modern diets if we only ate things grown locally to our area?
Something that immediately pops to mind in my home state that would be missing without imports is tropical fruits.
No Orange Juice first thing in the morning, smoothies would be boring, there would be no banana bread, and no coconut cream pie! Oh My!
It’s clear why it would be desirable for the woman of Proverbs 31 to import goods not grown in her own lands. But, what does this verse indicate for the body of Christ? What do we have to do with ships and trade and non-local foods?
I think we can look to the mission field for that answer!
The body of Christ was never intended to be one nationality! How boring would that be? No, we were meant to be a combination of all of God’s people! Just check out Jesus’ own words on the matter:
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd
John 10:16 ESV
The fold Jesus was talking to in this scripture was Jewish but it was clearly His intent that other sheep, gentiles, be included.
He wanted an exotic, multi-cultural, fold. He already had figs but he wanted apples and lemons too!
It wasn’t long after his ascension that what we would call “Missions” began! At first, this ministry was born of persecution but, later, it would be become a working part of the ministry.
Today, we still have the capability to include exotic new “foods” to the body of Christ through missions and you don’t have to go on the mission field to do it! We can support through giving and prayer!
Take for example Pauls words
Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
Philippians 4:16 ESV
Here, we see the example of the church as the Bride of Christ, supporting Paul in his ministry. This support doubtlessly lead to new exotic fruit being added to the kingdom of God as people became believers under Paul’s ministry!
Today, let’s be like the Proverbs 31 woman, devoted to increasing the kingdom with fruits from afar!
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