January 15, 2007
Part II: Proverbs 31 and Handmade -- Necessities
Posted in Proverbs 31 Entrepreneurialism
|
This second installment in the Proverbs 31 series has proven more difficult than I anticipated.
If you missed the first one, you can read it here.
In the first post I addressed what I would call "homemade hobbies". At the end of the post, I said, "But there is another category of homemade items that I do believe to be necessities. The question is whether or not making these types of items by hand is 1) better and 2) necessary. I'll discuss this in Part II."
What are necessities? For this argument, let's keep it simple -- how about food & clothing? Is it better to sew our own clothes, grow our own vegetables and bake our own bread, (for just three examples)? And is it necessary?
What do I mean by better? Is it better to make things homemade or are the items themselves better? I would like to address both issues. First, I don't think there is anything inherently "better" in making things homemade. In my last post I quoted a speaker from a very popular reformed CD on homemaking who encouraged women to "work on one or two skills at a time... like say you don't make your bread, let's say you buy a lot of prepared foods... start with a couple of things and learn those, you're not going to be like us right now..." From this comment and others, it seemed clear to me that she was encouraging all women to slowly work toward 100% homemade. I think this is a gross misinterpretation of the Proverbs 31 woman. The general principle of the passage is that she provided for the well being of her household. In fact, I would argue that you could go further to say that she provided HIGH QUALITY items for the well being of her household. Whether store bought or homemade her goal was to provide "only the best" for her family. She traveled great distances (like merchant ships) to purchase such items. It even says that "she bringeth her bread from afar!"
If we want "only the best" for our families, is it necessary that we make these items at home or can equal or superior products be purchased in the marketplace? With the industrial revolution and all the advances in technology, I would argue that, IN GENERAL, you can purchase clothing and food of equal, if not superior quality for pretty low price compared to the hours spent making them yourself. Even modest clothing and organic food can be purchased affordably. I've found that oftentimes the raw materials can be more expensive than the finished product. But of course there are EXCEPTIONS! Your husband may just love your bread or home grown tomatoes and no store bought compares. Or you may not be able to find that perfect dress, costume, or modest bathing suit. There is also something special and gratifying about making something with your own hands. And in certain cases it can save you a great deal of money. So I'm addressing the general principle, not the exceptions.
But even if your homemade items are slightly better than storebought, is it really worth the time invested to make such items. I've baked my own bread, nurtured my own garden and sewn my own clothes. These are no small investments of time.
Some might argue that their financial situation necessitates this investment of time. I can definitely understand that situation. But what if you could get yourself out of your financial situation by spending those same hours following the Proverbs 31 woman in her entrepreneurial ventures. I would argue that in the same amount of time spent gardening, baking and sewing, you could multiply the money you saved. I'm going talk more about this in Part III.
To sum up Parts I and II, I would say that I think the Proverbs 31 woman has been sadly misinterpreted. She was not the spokesperson for "homemade". Rather I would say she was the spokesperson and rolemodel for wisdom and excellence. And whether made at home or purchased in the marketplace, she provided high quality items for her family, like scarlet, fine linens and carpets of tapestry.
|
|
•
Post A Comment!
• Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
January 16, 2007 - my thoughts...
 Posted by Anonymous
|
|
If there are people who think they or another woman is more of a "Proverbs 31 woman" just because they/she makes homemade things I think they are wrong. Both women who buy things and women who make things can be "Proverbs 31 women".
You won't find me doing anything "entrepreneurial". Women like me and Zan ;) aren't business type women. So for women like us in is better to search for the best deals, grow our own food, and mayben make something homemade. That is our way of being like the "Proverbs 31 woman".
Since every woman and every family is different. (and thank the Lord for that!) Every so-called "Proverbs 31 woman" will be different. No one should judge and woman buys thing or a woman who makes things. If you have time to judge you might not have time to love. ;)
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous |
|
I agree very much with most of your post regarding the above mentioned being hobbies. I think most women would admit they do what they do because they enjoy it; not necessarily because of financial reasons, but it's a fun way to cut costs. But there's just something about homemade that says I love you. I'm of course not suggesting that serving frozen pizzas says otherwise. :)
I thought you were doing great until the last paragraph..."To sum up Parts I and II, I would say that I think the Proverbs 31 woman has been sadly misinterpreted. She was not the spokesperson for "homemade". Nor was she Frugal Fran, the coupon-clipping, sale jumping, bargain shopper... " I think we need to be careful not to make character molds that resemble our own personal preferences or conceptions. No, Scripture doesn't say she was a Frugal Fran, but she might have been!
--Ginger
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous |
|
But what if your husband wants you to do these things like making your own bread, gardening, bargain-shopping (as my husband does)? And what about the Proverbs 31 woman spinning and other such domestic things it mentions? Her being entreprenurial is mentioned just as much (or little) as it mentions her being domestic.
I'm just not following your logic biblically. Are you saying all women should be business-savvy and run businesses? If so, isn't that the same as what you are condemning - that someone else said all women should strive to make things homemade?
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 16, 2007 - Great Points
 Posted by Genesis1x28
|
|
These are great points and questions. I'm in the middle of school right now, but hope to write a response a little later.
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 17, 2007 - Was she frugal or a handmades kinda gal?
Posted by Mrs. Burrows |
|
Yes, the Proverbs 31 woman...the excellent wife King Lemuel's mother referenced and taught that he should seek...really was. Rather than briefly outline, possibly this pastoral exegesis of the verses will be beneficial.
http://www.ondoctrine.com/2mac0109.htm
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 17, 2007 - good thoughts
 Posted by brooke30
|
|
I like your thoughts that P31 doesn't have to have her own dairy goats to be holy. I guess I don't follow all your logic, though. Because I don't think my family should have the best of everything. I just don't see that, biblically. I see this mother telling her princely son what his sought-after queen should be like - and in principle, I want to be all those things. But I don't have the budget of a queen and I don't think I ought to either. I think we're all in different places. The persecuted families in North Korea whose husband / father is imprisoned will certainly not be seeking or feeling the need for the "best" of everything. Rather, our goal is to glorify God, whether in plenty or in want. Just thinking out loud. It sounds a little like you might be saying we deserve and should seek out the best of materials, clothes and food? Maybe I'm reading you wrong.
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous |
|
Who says I'm not a good businesswoman. Show yourself! ;-)
Mrs. Burrows. Thanks for posting that link to the sermon. It was really good!
Tina, maybe you could clarify yourself a bit with what brooke30 brought up. I could afford to buy clothes from the Gap for my boys, but I never would. The money is needed for other things.
-Zan
|
• Permanent Link
|
January 28, 2007 - Time is Money
Posted by Kristie |
|
You make the point that time is sometimes as valuable as our money. I made homemade bread, granola, gardened, etc....but it did take a huge amount of energy. Not to mention time. I think at times I got trapped into the homeschooling mom perfectionist trap of trying to do it all.
Your suggestion to try entrepeneurialism was a good one. It's not for everyone, but if could be helpful for some to hear.
|
• Permanent Link
|
February 11, 2007 - Hi
 Posted by momofsix
|
|
Do you have any ideas for moms dress? My husband doesn't want me to wear dresses but I change from size 8 to 16 every time I have a baby (he,he). Since you discuss Proverbs 31, I thought you might have some insight that might help. Have you heard what other moms do?
|
• Permanent Link
|
February 26, 2007 - Two women
Posted by Amy |
|
Way back when, in 1999, our ladies group had a guest speaker that taught about two women. Using Proverbs 31:10-31, she compared these two. I thought you might like to read my notes on that wonderful message.
Verse 10-virtous or flirty;
Verse 11-trustworthy of allow children to disobey; will not honor father's word;
Verse 13-16-energetic or lazy
Verse 18-economical or wasteful;spendthrift;
Verse 20-unselfish or selfish
Verse 21-22-prepared of not prepared
Verse 25-honorable;
Verse 26-prudent; wise or gossip
Verse 28-29-lovable or hateful
Verse 30-God-fearing or no fear of God
Verse 31-rewarded or unrewarded
|
• Permanent Link
|
July 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Lindsey |
|
Have checked back here once in awhile to see if you've had any more posts. How have you been doing?
|
• Permanent Link
|
August 6, 2007 - Lindsey
Posted by Genesis1x28 |
|
Hi Lindsey,
Thanks for your note.
I think I'm done blogging, but we'll see. I'm overdue with our 5th child and in the past 6 months my husband has launched 2 new divisions of his company. I've no time for blogging.
But it's more than that too. Our worldview, which is by no means new, has become a minority position in today's culture. Though it flourished in history, it is now considered foreign and new to most people.
The questions I received in response to my posts required volumes to answer. A premillenialist is never going to understand why we should strive for dominion and wealth and the "best" in everything. To answer the question I would first have to lay out the case for postmillenialism.
So I guess, the reason I fell off the blog world is threefold: 1) the comments were discouraging, 2) the questions were overwhelming and 3) I'm just too busy.
I was so glad to hear from you though.
Tina
Edited by Genesis1x28 on September 26, 2008 at 10:38 AM
|
• Permanent Link
|
September 14, 2007 - Proverbs 31 Woman
Posted by Anonymous |
|
Investment is the Law of Economics. A time well spent will yield investments in multiples of rewards, wether you bake your goods or you buy them, you have to determine for yourself how much your time is worth. If you have nob outside job, your time for the family may be appreciated. But there times when the family want to go outside of the home to taste the goods of the world. Can you duplicate your time lost or can you multiply them while you have them? You decide. God has given us time to spend judiciously as well as time alone with Him. We can do both and still profit well.
|
• Permanent Link
|
September 14, 2007 - Proverbs 31 Woman
Posted by Anonymous |
|
Investment is the Law of Economics. A time well spent will yield investments in multiples of rewards, wether you bake your goods or you buy them, you have to determine for yourself how much your time is worth. If you have no outside job, your time for the family may be appreciated. But there times when the family want to go outside of the home to taste the goods of the world. Can you duplicate your time lost or can you multiply them while you have them? You decide. God has given us time to spend judiciously as well as time alone with Him. We can do both and still profit well.
|
• Permanent Link
|
