Proverbs 31 Woman... Seriously?
Show of hands... who's ever read the Proverbs 31 description of a
virtuous woman and thought, "I can never live up to that"? I had to stop
typing for a moment... because I raised both of my hands!
Some of you men would hopefully hold her hands down!! :)
Let's take a quick look at the woman in verses 10-31. By the way, my comments are identified by red italics.
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
(So far, so good. I can be trustworthy and not evil and we know we can do this!)
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
(Um... I can buy yarn. And I can do stuff with my hands. But I'm not sure the two go together)
She is like the merchant ships,
(I do like ships, cruise ships especially!)
She brings her food from afar.
(All the way from the super market but prefer carry out)
She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household,
(Nope... that never happens in my house, well, unless grandchildren are visiting)
And a portion for her maidservants.
(Hold it right there... this woman has a maid! And not just one. She has maidservants... plural. This explains a lot)
She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
(Yes, she buys, plants and invests..well I do pay the bills)
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
(See, even in Bible times women were concerned about exercise and keeping up their bodies. Some things are eternal awg! do I really have to do this?)
She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
(yep, I paid the electric bill too)
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
(She is like an octopus!)
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
(That way, she can find them if they wander out in the snow)
She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
(This may be how the Red Hats started)
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
(Men still do this today. Super Bowl Sunday comes to mind or the liars table at Jacks every morning!)
She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
(Back to sewing again... I can sew on buttons. That's about it)
I
admit, I've had some fun with the Proverbs 31 woman. But seriously,
everything about her is admirable. And while most of us won't live out
the specifics of this virtuous woman (there are no maidservants or
vineyards in my future) the spirit of the woman is what's important.
Let's finish off the chapter, and you'll see what I mean.
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
“ Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the
LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let
her own works praise her in the gates.
It's really all summed up in this phrase:
"But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
When we fear the Lord, when we seek Him and His will for our lives, we
are headed in the right direction. Yes, we will still make mistakes. But
when our hearts are set toward God, He will carry us through and make
us the virtuous women He intended us to be.
I just felt this needed to be said this week. Sometimes, we need to share what we as women need to strive for..and for you men, you need to be supportive to them. Lift each other up in prayers, encouraging each other, for it is only in Him we can be better than we are.
Amen and God bless you!
