Today we’re going to start a really fun series on that “Proverbs 31” woman who often seems so out of reach. The Bible says her worth is “far above rubies” because she’s really rare. Rare? No kidding! She has a lovely home, a fantastic marriage, and kids who rise up and honor her.
There are two things I want to examine as we start working our way through Proverbs 31.
- Does the woman described in Proverbs 31 even remotely apply to us, women in the twenty-first century? Perhaps this is one of those passages of Scripture that seems so culturally distant that we read it and say, “Mmm-hmmm… that was nice. No way that could ever work.” Or should we entertain the possibility that ALL of Scripture applies to us today, in our culture, even when it seems impossible?
- What steps can I take, however radical, to become a virtuous woman? How can I make this practical in my life and my home?
Before we go any further, I’d like to take a look at the word “virtuous.” E-Sword says this:
H2428
חיל
chayil
khah’-yil
From H2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength: – able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+) valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).
So as I understand it, the author of Proverbs is asking, “Who can find a forceful woman, one of great valor and strength, one with the resources and means of an entire army?”
So this is no weak, wimpy, or washed-out woman! This is a strong woman, ready to do battle on earth against the forces of evil in the spiritual realms (see Ephesians 6:10-20). She’s ready to do battle, but she knows the unique way she can fight, not with conventional, feminist techniques, but in her home as a fabulous wife and mother.
Sometimes I get it in my mind that spiritual warfare is some lofty and amazing thing that only certain Christians can participate in. I don’t feel like doing dishes, changing diapers, decorating a bedroom, or reading a story to a toddler is “spiritual.” It’s too mundane and too boring. I just want to get those yucky tasks done with and over.
However, God’s Word is so refreshing to me. God says that my value as “just a wife” is greater than rubies and precious pearls. God says that a woman who is “just a wife” is stronger and more powerful than an army. God says that I can change the world, by being “just a wife.”
What are some tasks that you do that make you feel insignificant? How can God use those tasks for His kingdom?
Hugs,
Anne,
I was in my late twenties before I knew about the roles of women according to God’s Word. It may have even been you that started me wondering what all the hub bub was about!??! It is to be sure that I did not hear about either Proverbs 31 or Titus 2 until I was already a wife and mother. And not until I had started teaching my own children and had joined a Christian homeschoooling group. I look back still in wonder of how a girl, growing up in America in the Midwest today can be a regular attendant of a church and yet still never hear of these two passages until a few years ago. I can’t help but blame it on the culture that we live in today and churches purposely burying these passages because it does not fit what 90% of their female congregation lives. So sad!
My M-I-L and I had a conversation the other day about where I got some of my ideas from. We have very different outlooks on life. I have to confess that for the most part she is understanding of my diffences and praises the fruit of those differences she can see in my children. And I told her that I was practicing being a Proverbs 31 woman now so that I could qualify to be a Titus 2 woman later and teach others. She smiled sweetly as her eyes glazed over a bit and she noded her head in the apperance of understanding. But I know she had absolutly no idea what I was talking about. I only pray that I made her curious enough to go check. BTW, she is also a 70 year old woman who has been brought up in a church and is incredibly active in her current church home.
I have vowed that this instruction and wisdom of God’s role for a woman would not be void in my daughters lives. And we have several resources that have helped us to start them on the path to understand God’s role for women before they themselves are married and have children to teach.
If you wouldn’t mind I’d like to mention a couple. We have started them on the “Keepers and Little Keepers at Home” handbooks. We don’t have access to a club using this but it works just as well on our own. We don’t have to keep up with metals, or anything else. The girls keep the investment of the project supplies we give them. Another book we love is a book callled “His Little Princess” by Sheri Rose Shepherd and it is phenominal! I work through this book as our special Mother-Daughter time with my 6 year old. And it has been a true blessing. Another great book for girls is Gentle Passages (this will be for them when they are a little older.) And I’d reccomend anything from the Beautiful Girl Hood series also. Here is a resource that has all of these book I just mentioned I’m pretty sure…http://www.pumpkinseedpress.net/
I don’t know about you but when I read these resouces with my girls it tends to teach me just as much as I am teaching them. It is so wonderful to become a Proverbs 31 with my daughters! 8)
~Jo
Thank you SO much, Jo! Having been in your home and knowing your daughters and you as I do, I know you practice what you preach!
Love,
~Anne
You’ve been tagged for a photo meme! Get the details at http://www.joyeverafter.blogspot.com!
Thank you for your edifying post about the virtuous woman. Makes me think and value my place as a woman in Christ.
Anne-
Thank you for this series! I look forward to digging into this passage further.
And, thank you for the resources, Jo! I have three daughers and feel unqualified to teach them about Biblical womenhood. In fact, it is as if I am learning it for the first time with them! I feel blessed to finally be part of a chuch that is teaching this.
Ok, hope this is coherant. We have been invaded by the flu here and my brain is foggy.
Jenny