Occupy the Gates

(Proverbs 31:23 KJV)  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

This is a verse I like.  While the wife is building the family wealth, the husband gets to sit in a place of honor and look wise.  I am pretty good at both of those.  The word that we miss is the “when.”

There are certain assumptions here.  You don’t sit in the gates all the time.  That is reserved for the times of judgement or meeting.  When you go to the meeting you take a reputation with you.  When you get there you are already “known” (3045) [yada]. 

This knowing is a strong word.  It means that you have already been involved in the community to the point where people know your character and value.  This is not the respect of office.  It is not because you are a man or husband.  You are looked up to because you have lived in such a way that people know your value.

This does not happen in a day.

So?  What are you waiting for?  Get to living a life of integrity, honor and righteousness.  There is not time to start like today.  Tomorrow will be too late.