"An Excellent Wife: What God's Word Says" Part 5

I really enjoyed doing this series of posts. I've always heard that the characteristics of a virtuous wife could be found in Proverbs 31, but to actually take time to look deep into what each verse really says is really a lesson to me. As times have changed and women no longer rely on servants, as their washing machine and oven help amazingly, and there are less children running about in the average home, that doesn't mean that the attributes of a godly woman should change.

Many people, Christians as well as non-Christians, have this notion that two-child families are ideal and only big families are for "weird" home-schooling families who are unsocialized, and that mother must work outside of the home so the family can be well provided for. Let's look at where the truth lies....in the Bible. Who feeds us these lies about what family life is really about, or should be about? The World, that's who. So when the question is asked, what is a godly wife? Where does one look? Well, it should be the Bible. However, as one looks at the Bible, he or she will then turn the the World. Suddenly you have this weighing game. "Hmm, the Bible says this, but the World is really like that. I don't want to be different. I chose the World." You can't! You can't be like the World! The Bible very much applies to us today. Open your Bible, dig in deep. It's amazing how "modern" it may seem, because God's Words are very much eternal.

Verse 28 says,

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also praises her, "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all."

Modern: This verse makes me smile every time I read it. It's not every day that I hear of a child that truly admires his or her mom. Sure many children might "mind" their mothers, but how many of them admire them? How many little girls, or teenage girls for that matter think to themselves, "I want to be like my mother." Not very many from what I can tell. What a blessing it would be to a woman for her child, especially an adult child to say, "Mom, I admire you."

What about husbands? How many husbands admire their wives? When a man looks across a crowed room and spots his wife does his heart jump with joy and happiness as he thinks, "Oh, there she is". Does it make his heart smile to see her? An excellent wife's husband is more aware of the value she has in his life.

30) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Modern: I love this verse. For some reason I always think of Zack from "Saved By the Bell." Zack thought he could knock any girl off her feet with his charm and good looks. However:

Charm is Deceitful = misleading and manipulative
Beauty is Passing = The outward beauty will get wrinkled and sag. Outer beauty will not last forever. Eek! You don't say?!?

But a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. She was created for God's glory, and that alone will be where she will find her true joy and happiness. There's nothing more important to her relationship with the Lord, and others realize that.

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

Modern: She fulfills her duty with such grace and honor that she is well known without any personal gratification.

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Do people know the truth about you? What do you think they say about you? Would they see a Proverbs 31 woman in you? Just something to think about......