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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