This was probably expected at some point; after all, every woman looks to Proverbs 31 at various points in their life for guidance and to be reminded of the values God wants us to live out. What I like most about it is that it isn’t just about women but men too. I will agree that, for the most part, it is about women but not wholly. It’s just as crucial for men to reflect on Proverbs 31 too. I’ll do another post focusing on that; this post is all about women.

I will focus on the section beginning at verse 10 headlined – In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character.

Proverbs 31 is an aspirational passage, the characteristics in it are something we have to work towards and the more time we spend with Jesus, some of it will come naturally to us, but it will take time.

‘A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER WHO CAN FIND?’

Verse 10 springs us into the characteristics of a Godly woman with noble. Noble can refer to a person of the aristocracy but not in this context. A word used in other Bible translations is virtuous. In other words, a woman of high moral character.

But what does it mean to have a high moral character?

Morals are constantly changing; they have been shaped by cultural evolution. Some things never change, though, like murderers and cheaters being considered of low moral character. An example of changed morals would be homosexuality. It would have been frowned upon and unspoken one hundred years ago, but today it is more accepted in society.

Biblically, morals are less fluid, for we aim to live up to the standard that Jesus set. The Bible is where we find the knowledge to base our morals, such as the command to love our enemies and those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

‘SHE BRINGS HIM GOOD, NOT HARM, ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE.’

The second characteristic of a Proverbs 31 woman is to bring goodness. It may seem obvious, but we all need a reminder now and then, especially when someone is particularly annoying that day. God wants us to bring joy and love to life, not pain and suffering.

‘WORKS WITH EAGER HANDS.’ ‘ SHE SETS ABOUT HER WORK VIGOROUSLY;’ ‘DOES NOT EAT THE BREAD OF IDLENESS.’

A Proverbs 31 woman is hardworking. She works enthusiastically, knowing her purpose is to serve her Lord and others. She knows the proper balance of resting and working and cannot be described as lazy.

‘SHE GETS UP WHILE IT IS STILL NIGHT.’

Hardworking as she is a Proverbs 31 woman wakes up early to prepare for the day ahead and spends time with both God and her family before the busyness of the day takes over.

‘HER ARMS ARE STRONG FOR HER TASKS.’

She nourishes her body with healthy foods and drinks plenty of water. She makes time for self-care and studying God’s word to keep her mind healthy and her life focused on good things. She knows her body is a gift from the Lord, so she keeps it healthy by exercising and spending time in nature.

‘SHE SEES THAT HER TRADING IS PROFITABLE.’

A Proverbs 31 woman is intelligent and financially knowledgeable. She budgets to keep her family out of debt and keeps track of current events that may affect finances. She plans ahead to protect her family.

‘SHE OPENS HER ARMS TO THE POOR AND EXTENDS HER HANDS TO THE NEEDY.’

She is generous, giving up her time and money to help others, from family to strangers on the other side of the world.

‘WHEN IT SNOWS, SHE HAD NO FEAR FOR HER HOUSEHOLD; FOR ALL OF THEM ARE CLOTHED IN SCARLET.’

She provides for her family, ensuring they have appropriate clothes for each season, keeping them warm in the cold and dry when it is wet.

‘SHE IS CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY; SHE CAN LAUGH AT THE DAYS TO COME.’

A Proverbs 31 woman dresses modestly (1 Timothy 2:9), desiring her appearance not to cause lust or envy but to honour her Lord and His command stated in 1 Peter 3:3-4:  ‘let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.’

She is also filled with joy, knowing that with God in control, she has nothing to fear, instead finding comfort in God’s scripture.

‘SHE SPEAKS WITH WISDOM, AND FAITHFUL INSTRUCTION IS ON HER TONGUE.’

A Proverbs 31 woman is knowledgeable and uses it wisely. She knows when to speak and when it is best to stay silent. She knows when to act and how to wait in patience. Her words flow from the heart inspired by God’s word. Filthy language and falsehoods do not pass her lips. She is honest and kind, knowing that an act of kindness can be more powerful than words.

‘A WOMAN WHO FEARS THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED.’

But most of all, a Proverbs 31 woman fears the Lord and seeks to put Him first in her life every day. She studies the scriptures and is devoted to prayer.

Being a Godly woman does not mean being perfect but striving to reach the standard that God has set for us each and every day. Proverbs 31 can sometimes feel like it’s out of reach for us, but that is the point. It is meant to challenge and inspire us to be better every day.

Similar Posts

• Proverbs 31: Warnings and Advice for Godly Men

References

Cambridge Dictionary (2023). Noble. Available from: NOBLE | English meaning – Cambridge Dictionary [Accessed 17 May 2023]