Proverbs 31 Isn't Just About Women! | In Word and In Deed

Welcome to PART 3 of the Proverbs 31 Isn't Just About Women! series! If you haven't read the previous parts, here are the links to Part 1 and Part 2!

A quick recap: Proverbs 31’s first nine verses are written by King Lemuel, based on the wisdom he learned from his mother. In these verses, we have been able to see and learn characteristics of what a godly man looks like.

We covered these four characteristics, covering the first seven verses.

The First Characteristic: He Listens to and Honors Authority

The Second Characteristic: He Has Good Eyes

The Third Characteristic: He Demonstrates Self Control

The Fourth Characteristic: He Speaks Life

Let's continue to with fifth characteristic!

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;

ensure justice for those being crushed.

Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,

and see that they get justice.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT

The Fifth Characteristic: He is a Man of Action

A king has a duty to his kingdom to defend the causes of those who are oppressed, poor, and helpless. He must not stay quiet or act passively. A king cannot sit idly and wait for justice to come; he must stand and fight for it. This is exactly what King Lemuel’s mother is calling her son, the king, to do and be. To be a man who speaks up and is a man of action.

The word speak is said three times in these two verses. As we covered in the previous blog, the fourth characteristic is that he speaks life! We know there is power on the words that we say, life and death are in the tongue. Why would King Lemuel's mother emphasize speaking and ensuring justice. I believe it is because of this: It is one thing to say something; it's another thing to follow through on what you say.

In other words, our words and deeds must be congruent.

Am I saying one thing and doing another?

King Lemuel's mother is encouraging her son to not only speak up but to do something about it! Take action. Make it right. Or else it's all talk.

There is a difference between a man of action and an activist. Activists use their voices to campaign and bring awareness; yet, men of action are the ones who get things done. They take action to defend, to help, to rescue. They can’t just stand by and give lip to it. They do something about it. They “speak up” and “ensure” that justice has come to those who are being crushed. 

I think this speaks to what it means to lead. Leadership is more than lip or a title. Leadership is God's servant heart taking action.

I'm a girl and I only have sisters. The only men in my family are my dad and in-laws! But, what I have seen about men is that God inherently made men with the desire to defend, to help, and to rescue. Could this be why most of the men I know love superheroes, admire war heroes, and honor those who go into battle and fight on our behalf? Again, I’m not sure, but if you’re a man reading this, I wonder if this speaks to you? What does justice mean to you?  Something I love about my dad is that he would always encourage his daughters to do what was "right, just, and fair" and to be congruent in what we say and do. I believe that's what God is calling all of us to do, especially men.

Why is justice so important? Justice is rooted in the very character and nature of God. “Justice” in these verses can also be understood as judgment and righteousness. So, kings are not only called to uphold justice, but to keep the very standards of God's character in their kingdom. It goes back to the Garden of Eden with God's original design for mankind to rule and reign – to partner with God and have dominion over the earth.

What does being a man of action look like in real life?

I believe it starts with alignment and congruency in word and deed.

James 1:22-25 says:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,

and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—

they will be blessed in what they do."

Here's what I love about this Scripture: it connects our identity to our actions. There can often be a disconnect between word and deed for men for many reasons, but I think the main one is because many men look in the mirror, walk away, and forget who they are. They know who they are in word, but then forget it in the deed.

Before we get to the practicals, I just feel a pause to encourage and remind you, reader, to know your God-given identity in Christ.

When you know you who you are, being a person of action will follow that belief. I love what Jesus says in John 14:15, "If you love me, obey my commandments." God never forces us to love Him - He allows us the choice. And just like love is a choice, we can choose the action of obedience from that place of love and true identity in Him. Then, our obedience isn't out of religion but from relationship. What we do flows from who we are - not the other way around. That is religion and that is exhausting.

It is the Word of God shapes who we are. It has the power to cut through soul (our mind, will, and emotions) and spirit (what allows us to commune with the Holy Spirit). We must allow His Word to transform us into who God has made us to be. Meditate on it day and night. Remind our soul of God's beautiful benefits in Christ. All of this sounds like 'to-do's" - but again, when you love the LORD, the doing comes from a place a love not for love. It is the goodness and mercy of God. It is a humble heart that says, "Here I am, LORD. I love You. Have Your way in me. I can't do this without you. I know who I am in You. Help me to become all You say I am."

I believe all of this is what it looks like to be a person of action. Actions are the overflow of what we believe, so it's really important what we are believing.

If we believe it's all about do, behavior modification, and being a good person, we will never arrive. What truly transforms us is the Spirit of God. It is the mighty power of the Holy Spirit through His transformative love and Word, because of the blood of Jesus. Let the Word be planted like a seed and watch how it grows to become beautiful deeds!

Men: As you are growing into your calling as a man of action, building the Kingdom of God, ask yourself: do I believe what the Word of God says about me? I ask because what you do (actions) flow from who you are (identity), and who you are flows from what you believe. Trust in the love of the Father and the power of Jesus. Invite His Holy Spirit to fill you head to toe and to lead you on the right paths. Absorb His Word. Make the Bible your favorite book to read. Talk to Him in prayer. But do all these things from a place of honesty and vulnerability with the LORD. If you are struggling with taking action in an area of your life, seek Him. Tell Him. Let Him reveal and speak over you. Get in community that will encourage you to walk in His ways, too. The actions will come in time, but let them flow from a place of love. Let His love breathe purpose into your obedience. Let His love cast out every fear and lie and insecurity. Let His loving Spirit lead you into action. Trust the God who knows you better than you know yourself lead you into all truth.

Women: As you are praying, you are looking for a man who is humble yet confident in His identity in Christ. Look at what he says and see if he will follow through. Do his actions speak louder than his words? Does he put the Word into action in his own life – a doer of the Word, as James says? Notice how he reacts to when injustice or anything wrong happens. Does he speak up and choose the higher road if people around you begin to gossip? If something is wrong, will he do something about it, or does he get caught in his head or make excuses to why he didn't do it? Is there fruit of the Word transforming him in his life? He won't be perfect at this but the key is a humble heart and a willingness to learn, grow, and apply what was learned. And of course, I encourage you to be a woman of actions that are congruent with what you believe.

Friend, I pray this encouraged you and challenged you in the best way. Invite the Holy Spirit to search and know your heart. Are there any lies you are believing that are keeping you from taking action in your life or being a doer of His Word? Don't let the battlefield of your mind take over, but let Jesus silence the storm. Be still and honest with God, and trust Him speak kindness, truth, life. I say again, allow His love to breathe purpose into your obedience and give strength to your hands and knees. In Him, you can stand firm and confident. You can do it hand-in-hand with God. You were created by God in His image and called to rule and reign and build His kingdom. So, let's do it!

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

So God created human beings in his own image.

In the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Genesis 1:26-28

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“If you love me, obey my commandments.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,

who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

John 14:15-17

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But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,

and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—

they will be blessed in what they do.

James 1:25