Being Me in Proverbs 31

For Christian women, there is a lot of conversation that happens around being a “Proverbs 31 woman.” There is even a whole ministry dedicated to being a Godly woman of noble character. Let me just say, I find it incredibly hard to live up to that standard.

Proverbs 31 – Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^{10 [b]}A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

That’s a LOT to do!! I suppose if I’m going to do all of that, I should get up earlier huh? I’ve been struggling with that lately. I really do get more accomplished when I get up about 5 or 5:30. In order to do that, it means I need to go to bed earlier. Racer, however, is a night person and often works late. So I struggle with my natural rhythms and the desire to spend time with my hubby. Aside from that, however, I also want to be spending more time with God and I do that better in the morning.

As women from all over strive to be a “Proverbs 31 woman,” we should encourage and affirm them when we see qualities that are in line with the scripture. We ladies have to be careful, however, that we don’t compare ourselves to other women, judge women to harshly and in the end, tear ourselves and others down. Unfortunately, at least for me, I think we have a tendency to do that sometimes.

So today, I’m going to affirm and encourage at least one woman in my life using scriptural qualities from Proverbs 31. Will you help me? Let’s start a revolution and try to “honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”