Great Women and Men

Introduction:

1. This morning’s sermon, being very spiritual and Christ-oriented (Rev 3:20), is more important than this one.
2. But you cannot keep all His commandments and open your door fully to Christ without obeying wisdom here.
3. And you cannot totally fulfill the proverb before us without Christ’s grace and strength from this morning.
4. Of all the proverbs, this must be one of the best for brevity and conciseness in teaching two rules of wisdom.
5. When you find a clear and concise statement of Scripture, like I Timothy 6:6, you want to milk it for truth.
6. Do not be a hearer of the word and not a doer: you must assess yourself in God’s mirror tonight (Jas 1:21-25).
7. This individual proverb of Solomon is very hard in its judgment of women and men, but we can learn from it.
8. There is more wisdom in the word of God than in all the books, classes, and degree programs of all men.
9. Let us plumb these ten simple words for a broad lesson of greatness for both women and men (Psalm 119:96).
10. Every word of God is pure, and the wise in heart will rejoice at the great wisdom in these ten precious words.

Great Women are Gracious

1. Gracious women are always honored, for they conduct themselves in such a way to retain respect.
   1. Honor means being regarded very highly and treated accordingly, which gracious women keep.
   2. This measure of a woman’s character is strict, in that you know your virtue by esteem of others.
   3. A woman with friends must be a friendly woman (18:24); a woman without must not be friendly.
   4. A woman that is avoided or despised is the vile, odious woman of Agur’s nightmares (30:21-23).
   5. A good name, which graciousness secures, is a choice by a woman to be gracious always (22:1).
   6. A gracious woman will not allow a little folly in any direction to spoil her aroma (Eccl 10:1).
   7. Children and husband will honor a gracious woman, which introduces a woman’s roles (31:28).
   8. A truly gracious woman is a child of grace, who bears the full fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
   9. Such a woman has a foundation of absolute and unwavering fear of the Lord (31:30; 1:7; 9:10).
   10. A single member of the female sex can always be loved and respected by her great graciousness.
   11. If any girl or woman wants to know what single trait to learn and apply, it is surely graciousness.
   12. It is a gracious woman that is always appreciated, but how does she actually live graciousness.
2. She is a virtuous wife: she always seeks to please and serve him well (Prov 31:10-12,29; I Cor 7:34).
3. She is a diligent homemaker: the chief trait of the virtuous woman is very hard working (31:13-27).
4. She is a kind woman: she speaks kindly and never contends (21:9,19; 22:11; 25:24; 27:15; 31:26).
5. She is a tender mother: her children are only beloved, not criticized or nagged (4:3; Titus 2:4).
6. She is a loving woman: she knows and practices all fifteen aspects of godly charity (I Cor 13:4-7).
7. She is meek and quiet: her role is subjection and her beauty a very submissive heart (I Pet 3:1-4).
8. She is a reverent wife: no one ever hears her belittling or blaming her husband (Eph 5:33; I Pet 3:6).
9. She is an obedient wife: she trusts submission and obeys him as to the Lord (Eph 5:22-24; Titus 2:5).
10. She is an erotic wife: she rejects bitterness, selfishness, or boredom to defraud her man (I Cor 7:1-5).
11. She is a cheerful woman: happy as woman, wife, and mother: she is sunshine in the home (15:13).

Great Men are Strong

1. Strength of character and wisdom of soul are shown very clearly in a man’s financial dealings.
   1. There are many things that want to take money away, but strong men can resist and defeat them.
   2. This measure of a man’s character is strict, in that you cannot hide long behind words or show.
   3. The Lord taught His apostles the rules of being faithful in that which is least (Luke 16:10-12).
   4. When we analyze financial success, we quickly find a number of wonderful rules for men.
   5. But what is it that makes a man strong? The fear of the Lord is the foundation (Ps 12:1; 112:1-5).
   6. The true strength and wisdom of character comes from the grace of Christ Jesus (Phil 4:13).
   7. A mighty man of valor will seek to be strong in these ten aspects that apply to his whole life.
   8. How is it that strong men retain riches? What do they do so differently from weak men?
2. He is a diligent worker: he must earn the riches first, before he can retain them (10:4; 13:4; 22:29).
3. He is a wise worker: he must not waste his diligent zeal in any fruitless pursuits (14:4; Eccl 10:10).
4. He is a liberal giver: he knows God must be paid first, Who blesses the generous (3:9-10; 11:24-25).
5. He has temperance to save: he can discipline himself to put current cash flow away (6:6-8; 30:25).
6. He has self-denial for spending: he values each dollar and will not waste even one (21:17,20; 12:27).
7. He has patience: he can wait for his labor and investments to eventually reward him (27:18; 28:19).
8. He is skeptical of everything: suckers are born every minute, so he proves all things (12:11; 14:15).
9. He is prudent about risk: he avoids danger, unnecessary debt, and contingent liabilities (6:1-5; 22:3).
10. He is righteous always: he obeys God, man’s ordinances, and perfect business ethics (11:1; 16:14).
11. He is charitable to others: he keeps clients and employees happy (29:21; Job 31:13-15; I Cor 13:4-7).

Conclusion:

1. Today we heard about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and putting that into wise, practical effect.
2. It is our highest duty and privilege to perfect ourselves by God’s Word for Christ’s glory and others’ profit.
3. Open the door for the Lord of glory to come in for fellowship, and then use His strength to live Christ-like!

For further study:

1. Sermon Outline: “Graciousness,” which defines the subject and deals with it very practically from various aspects.
2. Proverb Commentary, “Proverbs 11:16”, which provides helpful paragraph interpretation and explanation of the text.
3. Sermon Outline: “David’s Mighty Men,” for provoking men to be the mighty men of valor Christ called them to be.
4. Sermon Outline: “Perfect Marriages,” which provides a basic review and study of men and women in marriage.
5. Sermon Outline: “Bible Economics,” which exhaustively reveals God’s ten rules for financial success in life (see also).
6. Sermon Outline: “Marriage Essentials,” for further review of being great men and women in your marriage.