I've been a wife for almost 6 years and a mother for almost 4 years. Especially being a stay-at-home mom, these scriptures have given me comfort, inspiration, encouragement and purpose.
You can find the Wife of Noble Character in Proverbs 31:10-31. It is a beautiful, strong portrayal of women. Some mistakenly assume the ideal biblical woman is meek, submissive and entirely domestic, but that is just not the case as these scriptures indicate.
This woman is an excellent wife and mother, but she is so much more than that. She is also a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer and merchant. However, even though she has many skills and achievements, her strength comes only through her reverence for God.
In the next few weeks, I am going to examine the Wife of Noble Character in a verse by verse study of Proverbs 31:10-31. I believe this scripture gives great insight to the power we have as women, but more importantly the power we have in God. As a woman, I do not define myself by society standards (or even church standards), I define myself by God's standards.
In God's Word lies a woman who is a picture of strong character, great wisdom, many skills and great compassion. This scripture can seem very intimidating so I am going to break it down a bit and analyze all the aspects of the Wife of Noble Character.
Join me as I study this blueprint for women to learn more about God's standard for women and how to live up to that extraordinary example.
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A Wife of Noble Character
10 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!”
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.
I am looking forward to your insight into this scripture.
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