Proverbs 31:8 raising ministers

Proverbs 31:8  Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights (lit. judgment) of all the unfortunate (lit. sons of passing away).

This mother has just instructed her son not to open his mouth to consume wine or women.  Now she is instructing him in the proper use of his mouth.

It helps here to look at the King James Version:

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed for destruction.

Destruction, as shown in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, means surviving; by implication, collectively, orphans.

Her son is called to be a voice for the orphan.  Of course, I believe, the Holy Spirit (as in all these verses), is here addressing all His sons.  And what a timely message with the multitude of orphans who are in the world today.

Born again men should be about the ministry of reaching out to the orphans with the love of Jesus.  And we, as mothers, have the opportunity, the responsibility, to teach this to our sons.  We are to model it for them, and include them as their heart is moved by the action of our faith in His Word.

And not only are there literal orphans who have lost parents due to AIDS, famine, natural disasters, etc., but we are all aware of the many broken families in America.  And even of the families that stay together, there are many on the road to self-destruction.  Ministry opportunities are all around us.  We are not to allow this to overwhelm us, and cripple us with apathy.  God is calling us to rise up and be part of the answer.  He wants us to be more like Him, Jesus who was moved with compassion.  He wants us to be more like Paul, who’s life He showcased, who was compelled and constrained by love.  No Christian is to be idle or simply go to church to be fed.  Each of us has a purpose and a mission, to use our lives, our voice to help others.  And God will take care of us while we work with Him to take care of them.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness;  and all these things shall be added to you.              Matthew 6:33 

Also, the use of the word “dumb” in this verse is not intended by this mother to be an insult.  Rather, she is trying to make her son aware that there are children in the world who are not as fortunate as him.  He has access to schooling and loving parents.  Many do not have anyone to teach them, and so they are left without knowledge.

 

 ACTION POINTS

*teach my children about the needs of others and pray together for those needs

*be involved as a family in ministry to orphans that includes their schooling

*be involved as a family in ministry to single moms, etc.