Expanding Judiciously

16 She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. ~ Proverbs 31:16 (Amplified)

I don't know about you, but I have never read this passage in this way. It has never occurred to me to think of it like this. I always thought it was talking about making wise financial decisions. The NASB reads, "16She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard." While I am certain that is a topic of importance here, I do not think it is all there is to gain.

I am going to go out on a limb here and make a general assumption that mothers tend to put too much on their plate. Many times we feel that if something is "good" then we should do it, help with it, etc. I think this scripture gives us the answer to what we should take on and what we should not.

This Godly woman expands her activities wisely; making sure that taking on something new will not take away from the responsibilities with which she is currently involved. WOW! AND, on top of that, it also tells us that the activities she is involved in are fruitful because of the wise decisions she has made! Don't we all want our activities to be fruitful?

Can you imagine how effective the church would be if we all took on what God has apportioned for us? We would not have burned out ladies trying to do 5 different things being ineffective at all 5! I encourage you to find what God is calling you to do and do it.....allow everyone the opportunity to be fruitful! (this is just another way that God has designed the church as a body)

I would also like to encourage all of you SAHM's with small children. A large part of your portion is being at home, leading your child in the ways of the Lord. I think we sometimes feel like we are not doing enough if we are mostly just being a MOM but that is a lie straight from Satan. He wants us to fill ourselves with good stuff so that we don't have enough time or energy for the best stuff! You are fulfilling a ministry that many Mom's don't have the privilege of doing!