| THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN Let’s look at the noble characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman for a minute. She is a woman who has strength of character. She is very capable and upright in all that she does (does everything honestly, fairly and with integrity). She is wise and courageous, and she is of great value to her husband (v10). She is compared to a jewel as she will greatly enrich her husband’s life (v11) Her husband feels no condition hopeless with her at his side as she is patient, and a help to him in completing his work (she fits in with his plans and does everything she can to be an appropriate helpmate (helper) to him). It’s not all about her, but her life is centered in fitting in with him and his calling or vocation. She goes where he goes, she follows him where his job calls him without complaint. She encourages him in his work and lifts him up when he becomes discouraged, and she does all she can to help him, as she can, with whatever he needs her to do for him. This requires quite a change of attitude from the 21st century brainwashing we get from the movies, t.v. shows, media and every other secular force that tries to influence the American woman today. So anti-Biblical is our generation that women hardly know they are being influenced under these ungodly forces, and going against the teachings of our Lord for women. We must constantly be in the scriptures in order to know what God’s Word says about women and our place as women in God’s economy of things, not our own or the worlds! He is not afraid to trust her with the management of the home! (v11) while he is away on business, or with his children, with his money, with his secrets & inner feelings he shares with her (knowing that she will not share these intimate feelings with anyone else)= trust. She does him good and not evil (v12). She does not gossip about his faults to others. She doesn’t spend foolishly, and tries to do what is best for her husband. She guards his reputation by her own behavior. She is industrious (not lazy but a hard worker) (v13) She spun cloth to make clothes for the family. Today we would shop for good bargains, sales for clothes. She worked WILLING (look at her attitude). Christian women should do their work cheerfully as: 1) it affects all those around us, b) we are the ones who create the attitudes in the home for our children and our husbands, c) our children pick up on our attitudes as they do their work, d) our husbands can either come home after working all day to one of warmth and love or the opposite! She constantly looked for ways to save (v14). Look at v11 again, “and he will have no lack of gain) her husband. She would be like one who shopped sales, saved coupons, looks thru the newspaper for food sales at stores & plans her menu accordingly. She’s probably one that would freeze food after buying it on sale. She got up early (remember she was industrious) v15) in order to get a lot of things done. The morning is the BEST time to work because our energy level is high after sleeping all night. She does not idle away her time but was on top of her work (not behind). She did not do things out of drudgery but did her duties cheerfully. She planned her work for the day & that of her servants. She Also Worked (v16) outside the home (this is probably an older woman that is referenced in Proverbs 31 and not one raising small children or home schooling their children. (If possible, we need to take the opportunity to be at home with our children so that we can show them the principles that we are trying to instill in them, and train them up in the way that they should go.) In Proverbs 31, her husband sits at the city gates. These were elders of good reputation sitting there. So she must have been an older woman and not a young one. She had responsibilities. She showed great capability in her work. She showed intelligent thinking & made wise choices and she was a very hard worker. BUT she also had help with the household (as it mentions that she had servants). She had no time to talk on the phone to her friends a lot nor watch daytime t.v., nor sleep late nor time to go to friends and neighbors for coffee and gossip. She was girdeth with strength (v17) I think this can also mean in her mind as well as physically able to perform her tasks. Today many women are neurotic and nervous. They live in too fast a pace a life. They take on too many projects and undertakings. Today’s woman must learn to say “NO” to some of the opportunities that come her way, so that she can be in a more relaxed frame of mind, and not spun out of control, or at least in a perpetual frenzy with too many things going on at once. That is not God’s plan for your life. We need to weigh the VALUE of our opportunities and see if they will give us peace of mind, are of real benefit to our families and others, and see if we really have the time and energy to do what is asked of us. She Felt a Sense of Accomplishment From Her Work (v18) and this gave her pleasure. Her Work Was Not One of Selfishness (v19). She worked so she could GIVE! We should help those in need even as she did. For in this way, we serve Jesus (remember “when you’ve it to the least of these my little ones you have done it unto me.” said Jesus. Story of 3 Women: There were 3 women who were disputing over who had the most beautiful hands. A 4th woman came along and gave to a worn looking aged woman who asked them for a gift. Then the old woman said, “the most beautiful hands are the ones that give to the poor”. As she spoke her mask fell off and there stood an angel of God. There is a scripture that says; “you know not when you entertain angels unaware.” So who knows who we are really doing things for??? The Clothes for Her Families Needs Are in Order (v21) She is Careful of Her Own Appearance (v22). She dressed very nicely and she was not sloppily or unfeminine. Her body and her clothes were clean. Her husband was proud of her appearance. And her BEHAVIOR was the mirror in which she shows her image (wow) can we say this about us? You would see the real person by her behavior. We can have the latest fashions, the most updated hairstyles, long polished nails and it doesn’t mean a thing to God. It’s the inside that counts not the outside. It’s the inside that is the mirror of us really! Her husband is very proud of her (v23). She has been a crown for him in their marriage. He has built a good reputation by her good deeds. He is neatly and cleanly dressed with shoes polished and shirts ironed. He sits among the elders of the city feeling honored because he has a wife like her. She Is Clothed With Strength and Dignity (v25). There was nothing in her life to be ashamed of (of course that is not to say that she never sinned, for we all sin occasionally, but generally on the whole). She has no fear of the future (she has done things right and knows that God is in control of her life) She doesn’t fear old age like we do. Her Words (v26) are filled with wisdom. No gossip or idleness comes from her, only kindness comes from her lips (when she give instructions) to her kids, servants, others she has responsibility over. She Watches All That Goes On in Her Household (v27). She sees that their physical needs are met. She sees that their behavior is pleasing to God (and not afraid to use the rod if necessary in order to discipline their children and get them in alignment with attitudes and behavior that is necessary to please the Lord). She sees that her family form good habits like having good friends and selecting the right programs on the tv. She is careful that they are not listening to improper CD’s or music that would influence them away from the Lord. She oversees what they read, hear and see. She sees that they develop disciplined lives (by her example) in their homework, prayer life, hygiene, love for others, giving and learning unselfishness. All of these things are a part of watching over the household and paying attention to the state of our children and husbands. The most important job we have down here on the earth is to raise our children as a gift we can give back to the Lord, that He can use and choose. And also to be the kind of wives that the Lord would be proud of according to Ephesians 5. OUR REWARD! V28-29 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her saying “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” WOW! This is what we want said of us when we come to the end of our days don’t we? That is worth it all! This is God’s kiss to us for our hard labor, but this is also the reward that will last forever! Charm is deceptive (v30) Beauty does not last it says, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised! Not only by our family in vs 28-29 but also by others. Her deeds publicly declare her praise. All the kind things you do for others does have a reward! All the help, giving, caring you’ve done for others does not go unnoticed, the Lord will rewards you for those things as well, and so will others give you praise. |
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