"...the bread of idleness..."

Since we have moved to Bangkok we now have ALL of our beloved books at hand…and it’s great! I never realized how much I miss picking up a book and reading a few encouraging words (most of our books are spiritual growth/how to raise a godly heritage type books and reference books). I started reading Doug Wilson’s book “My Life for Yours” the other night. I know there is much debate out there on Doug Wilson but I am not going to go into all that here. In the book, Wilson goes through each room of the house and relates it to Scripture. It’s pretty neat, actually and it has caused a great deal of thinking in my little pea brain. Then two nights ago in my proverbs reading I read Proverbs 31. If you are familiar with the Bible then you perhaps may have heard about this “Proverbs 31 woman.” I have heard MANY a sermon on this woman (and I have read MANY a book on this woman too!) and I think every Christian woman desires to be THIS woman and every Christian man WANTS a woman like this. Verses 10 thru 31 paint a picture of the godly woman, the woman who fears the LORD. In my reading the other night verse 27 REALLY stood out to me. It reads (New International Version) “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” And then I continued reading. Then, I believe the Holy Spirit of God stopped me and had me reread the verse, “and DOES NOT EAT the bread of IDLENESS.” “Whoa”, thought I. “Is that me?” thought I. “God are you saying I am sinning in this area?” And, yep, the nasty truth is that I am found wanting, I am oftentimes idle with my time. The great thing about God’s Spirit and His Truth (the Word) is that once God hits us over the head and gets it into our little pea brains we want to obey and please Him in that area though it may be a struggle to do so.
Then on Sunday we watched another DVD sermon from our home church. And Pastor Phil preached on Romans 8. The most striking thing (for me) in that sermon was when he exposited verses 5-8. He talked about our mindset and what we think about when there is nothing else to think about. What kinds of things fill our minds? What kinds of things fill MY mind?? Good question and lately there hasn’t been much down time but as I have been pondering that question these past days I am realizing that it is VERY tempting for me to turn on the TV. (I am not saying the TV is an evil and vile thing in and of itself but I waste time in front of it when I could be doing something that will bring greater glory to God i.e serving my family and neighbors).
It continues to amaze me how God puts all these things together to bring me to understand more of what He wants from me and to expose to me more of my sinful habits and ways. His Word is so powerful and His Spirit so amazing. I do digress…
So, the past two days I have tried to fill the days NOT being idle. I will think, I should turn on the TV while the boys are napping but instead I have not, I have ironed the pile of laundry from the previous days’ load. (And just so you know I COULD justify turning on the TV because it’s Thai TV and there is SOME good in watching it for language ability!). This passage also ties in nicely with the book I am reading by Doug Wilson. He talks about the wife’s domain (the house, just in case you didn’t realize that fact!). So, I have been challenged to have the house in order and clean for when Paul gets home. These three points have come together beautifully and though I am still not perfect (waiting for GLORY on that one) I am much more aware of my time and how I use it.