A Virtuous Woman

TO READ: Proverbs 31:10-31

Verses below the prayer below:

March 25

A Virtuous Woman

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.Proverbs 31:10

Naomi Wolf wrote in a recent book, “There are no good girls; we are all bad girls.” She went on to suggest that, since this is the case, women should admit it, society should accept it, and everybody should get on with their lives. Presumably, traditional thoughts of feminine virtue and decorum, grace, and beauty should be jettisoned, and women should be allowed to behave like—well, like men!

Should that happen, the search for a virtuous woman will become even more of a challenge than it apparently was in the days that the book of Proverbs was written. There we read, “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?” (Prov. 31:10). Given her stated worth as being “more precious than rubies,” it appears that there were not enough “virtuous and capable” women to go around. But men were nevertheless well-advised to search for such a woman, because a virtuous and capable woman’s “husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life” (31:12).

As this “Proverbs 31” woman is described, her virtues and capabilities come clearly to the fore. In fact, she appears to be a superwoman. It is no wonder that such a woman, once discovered, would be a precious treasure! Perhaps no one woman is expected to display all the characteristics of the woman described here. Her trustworthiness, her industry, her foresight, her wisdom, her generosity, her reputation, her faith, her wisdom, her kindness, her childcare, and her love for her husband are the characteristics that a man should look for in a wife and virtues that he should nurture and nourish once she has agreed to share her life with him.

Unfortunately, men often tend to look on the physical attractiveness of a woman as her most significant asset, and they may overlook more important aspects of her person. They should remember that “charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised” (31:30). In other words, a woman’s outward appearance is not insignificant, but her inward disposition is profoundly more significant. And this disposition stems from a heart for the Lord. In other words, her faith matters more than her face!

Feminists like Naomi Wolf may be convinced that all girls are bad, but they’re wrong. God has his women, and a wise man who has sought one of them, wooed her, won her, and cherished her will never let her go—and he will treat her in such a way that she’ll never want to stray.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, as I come before you this day, I want to thank You for coming into my life, for showing me Your Love and especially for leading me to my wife, who, is more precious than rubies, gold or diamonds combined.

In Jesus Christ I pray,

Amen

Proverbs 31:1-31

 

1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.