A Wife of Noble Character: Energetic, Strong and Hard Working

Proverbs 31:17 -- "She is energetic and strong, a hard worker."

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I believe this verse focuses on integrity. The wife of noble character has passion for her work and puts all of herself in it. She is not lazy and continues to pour all of her energy into all that she does.

She is also strong. The Hebrew word used here is "oz," which means "might" or "strength." It includes material or physical strength, but it goes beyond that as well. It also means "personal, social or political" strength.

Women are not these frail beings that patriarch society often portrays. Women are strong, perhaps not as physically dominant, but that does not mean they are weak. A fierce personal strength and intellect can overcome many strenuous tests. Women are able to stand on their own in the social and political scene. Unlike the patriarch traditions dictate, women have the competency to handle themselves. It is a flawed human society that puts women in a place behind man, not God.

The strength of a person, man or woman, is weak without God.

Ephesians 6:10 -- "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

Without God we can't really accomplish much. Our true strength comes from the one who created us. The wife of noble character knows, in her heart, that she inherits her strength from the Lord.

The wife of noble character is also a hard worker. She does her duties with joy and doesn't cease until the job is finished and done right.

Proverbs 12:11 -- "A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense."

A hard worker provides for herself and her family. Laziness and procrastination are foolish. Integrity is the willingness to live by your beliefs and standards. The woman of noble character is energetic, strong and a hard worker. You can see the fruits of this labor throughout the scripture by how her character affects everyone and everything around her in a positive way. She is keeping her integrity and her noble character throughout ever facet of her life.

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A Wife of Noble Character: Good Business

Proverbs 31:16 -- "She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard."

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The wife of noble character proves that business is not left up to the men. Women have the knowledge, wisdom, intellect and full capability to inspect and purchase needs for the family. This goes far beyond buying groceries and clothes.

Not only does a woman decided and make purchases, she then invests that acquisition and money to make a profit and expand her productions. She is an active participant in the workings of the economy and how to make the most of whatever she has to work with, great or small.

This is describing good business practices, the act of obtaining and reinvesting. This is not squandering money on frivolous things or personal gain, but to better her household and give herself and her family a solid foundation on which to prosper.

The wife of noble character is not restrained to the home and domestic duties, but encouraged and expected to find ways, in all aspect of life, to make it better for herself and her family.

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Wordless Wednesday *Linky* Sullivan's Island Lighthouse

This is a very simple, yet beautiful lighthouse on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. It is a blessing to live so close to this wonderful horizon and to look on it as we play at the beach!

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A Wife of Noble Character: Prepares for the Day

Proverbs 31:15 -- "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls."

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This verse makes many good points. However, I'm going to go ahead and dismiss the point that it is a requirement to get up before the sun rises, though it is a viable option and the best for choice for some. Also, I don't have servant girls, but I do manage my household. Let me break it down so I can explain further.

"She gets up before dawn."

The takeaway I get from this statement is we need to make time to pray and prepare for the day.

Mark 1:35 -- "Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray."

I know if Jesus needed time to pray, to be alone with God, I definitely do. This time doesn't necessarily have to be before daybreak. I personally think better in the morning, but I have a really hard time getting up before the sun. This time is going to be different for everyone, the point is it is important to have alone time with God.

"...to prepare breakfast for her household."

I have a young child so I do get up and prepare breakfast in the morning. However, it is usually simple like cereal or yogurt and fruit. I don't think they accounted for Pop Tarts as breakfast when this Proverb was written. There isn't a whole lot of preparing in this day and age unless you just want to do it. I believe there is more to understand from this verse than just making breakfast though.

Romans 12:11 -- "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."

Get up and get moving. Quiet time is important if you choose to do that in the morning, but afterward get started on a productive day. Get excited about what the day has to offer and figure out ways to serve God enthusiastically -- don't get caught up in the stress and exhaustion of routine. Find ways to spend meaningful time with others and make the most of everyday.

"...plan the day's work for her servant girls."

Well, I don't have servant girls, but I do manage my household and make sure everything gets done.

Luke 12:42 -- "And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them."

I interpret this to mean that God believes I am his faithful and sensible servant because I accept the responsibility of managing my home. For me this usually means getting chores done, making sure my daughter gets meals and has every opportunity to learn and explore new things. It means making sure everyone has what they need when they need it.

This again is going to look differently depending on who you are and what stage of life you are in. It's okay that it is all going to be different, no two women of noble character are going to be the same because God made no two people the same.

A wife of noble character has much responsibility for those around her. She is the center of making it all happen. Take time to spend alone with God, take time to prepare and make time to get it all done. Easy right? Maybe not, but definitely an amazing goal to work towards. Rely on God and ask for help -- He will see you through it.

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A Wife of Noble Character: Like a Merchant's Ship

Proverbs 31:14 -- "She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar."

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A woman is "like a merchant's ship." What does that mean? I believe this is one verse that will benefit from being read as a whole and being broken up into separate parts.

I want to focus first on the idea as a whole. Since the woman is like a ship, she can hold and bring food from all over. She seeks out the best and brings it back for herself and her family. She is resourceful and trades with other in the network of merchants. This means that she provides no matter what obstacles are in the way.

I want to go a little deeper and focus on the simile. "She is like a merchant's ship." First of all those ships are grand, sturdy and incredibly effective. This means that she can ride the waves of adversity and still remain afloat. It means she will withstand the test of endurance as time and circumstance crash against her. It means she is efficient with what and how she goes about her tasks. It means she will raise her head, as the masks do, and continue to her destination. I means she knows which direction to go and how to get there. It means she can provide and carry out duties for her family, the community and within the world of trade and business.

The verse continues with "she brings her food from afar." This not only includes the dependability to provide for her family, but also at what lengths she will go to do it. Most importantly, this verse tells me that a wife of noble character is a traveler. At the very least is willing to travel and communicate with people who life far away to conduct business. This is very exciting when you think of the stereotypical woman being entirely domestic. She goes where she needs to go, interacts with others and is not afraid to travel to get what the family and the community needs.

At first this verse was hard to work with, now it is one of my favorites. Women are strong, sturdy, resourceful, efficient, dependable, hard working, travelers and merchants. Still, the wife of noble character is looking to God for guidance and safety and taking care of others before herself. Again and again, these verses will show that women are able to take care of many things outside of the traditional roles for women; however, it is not to the glory of the woman to hold over a man's head nor a man's glory to restrict her from duties she is willing and capable of doing, the glory goes to God. By putting God first in our lives and working together as husband and wife and as a coed community, we make the unity of the church and we make God proud to call us His children.

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