A Wife of Noble Character - Proverbs 31 (NLT)
10 [b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
I've been giving a lot of thought lately about what it means to be a "Proverbs 31 Woman". After all, that is the coveted prize title among Christian women, is it not? This has been on my mind a lot because summer is coming, and I'm about to spend my kids' summer break working outside the home for the 1st time. I've been wrestling with guilt and sadness over this fact. I love my job, and I know that God has me there for very specific reasons, so I don't doubt that I've made the right decision. I'm just struggling to balance needing to be at my job and wanting to be home with my kids.
Somehow, (though I don't think I was ever specifically taught this) I had in my mind that the only way to truly be a great wife and mom was to be home with them. I was so very blessed to be able to do that until they went to school. Through a series of God-ordained events, I ended up back in the work force. So what now? Am I all of a sudden not able to measure up because I'm following God's will? That doesn't make sense?
So I went back and visited Proverbs 31 again... It turns out this lady is into real estate. She "goes" to inspect a field, and she buys it. Then she plants a vineyard. She has business dealings that are profitable. I'm assuming some of that took place "outside" the home. Huh? So this lady some how managed a career... interesting.
But, it doesn't stop there... First, it talks about her being a trustworthy wife, and a dutiful mother. Her family is provided for and they don't have to worry. Why? Because she's up before dawn and she works into the night... She is NOT LAZY! And, she is physically fit - energetic and strong. She takes care of herself too.
Now to me that is the ideal woman. Someone who is able to balance it all through God's help - Her home, her career, her family, her fitness. I'm praising God for a new look at this passage this week. My heart still longs to be home with my kiddos, but God has a plan for this summer, and I'm excited to see what happens. So, all you working ladies out there... hang in there! It is possible to hold it all together. Not through our strength, but through HIS!
...Now to work on getting those servant girls...
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