Open Arms

Read Proverbs 31

[The virtuous wife] extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20

In this portrayal of what is known as the “virtuous wife,” we find, among many other qualities, a woman of compassion. While no one woman is expected to exemplify perfectly every characteristic in this description, the general portrayal is a woman of wisdom, a fitting ending to a book about wisdom. This woman has wealth that she manages carefully, and yet she is willing to help the poor and open her arms to the needy.

Compassion is a vital need in our world today. Many of us are running around trying to gain more and more, never having enough, never content, never even considering offering help to those in need. We have plenty of excuses. But this woman of wisdom stood willing to help those who have less. Whether she gave money, time, or resources is unknown—and not really important. The point is, she gave. And so should we.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Busy people make time for others.

Lord, open my eyes to the needs of others. Show me how to be a person of compassion. Show me one person for whom I can do something compassionate today.