on being a proverbs 31 woman

Before we strive to be an encouraging friend, good student, faithful teacher, or most likable peer, we’ve gotta align ourselves with what God’s Word instructs us. What the Lord thinks of us is far more important than what any friend, sibling, parent, coach, or teacher will have to say. His advice alone leads to the radical change and revelation we desire for our lives. Tonight I’m taking a slightly different approach to writing. Instead of pointing out key ideas, I want to walk through this chapter a verse at a time. So, grab your Bible & let’s walk through verses 10-31.

verse 10— Let’s talk about diamonds. They exist, but are hard to find. It takes a lot of searching and digging to uncover them. Therefore, they have a very high cost and we call them “precious” stones. A few synonyms for precious are invaluable, priceless, choice, and irreplaceable. This verse tells us that the Proverbs 31 woman is worth more than the most rare stone on the earth. Your worth is measureless!

verse 11— Her husband trusts her and because of her loyalty, he will never be lacking. It was common in bible times for some men to lock up their belongings to keep them safe from their wife. My first thought is the Bachelor. It seems like he always has trust issues with the women on the show. He gives someone a valuable piece of his heart and the women don’t treat it carefully. The Proverbs 31 woman can be trusted with valuable items.

verse 12— She does good things to him and for him from “I do” until death. There is never any backstabbing. She does not seek revenge.

verse 13— The Proverbs 31 woman collected materials to make clothing for her family. I love that she works with WILLING hands. She delights in serving her family; it is never an obligation/nuisance.

verse 14— Some of the best foods had to be brought from afar. She is willing to travel as far as necessary to provide the best foods for her family.

verse 15— She wakes up early in the mornings to make food for her household. Not only does she provide for her husband and children, but she goes the extra mile to make meals for her servants.

verse 16— She is wise with the family’s money, but what is necessary rather than what she selfishly wants for herself. We know she is a hard worker because she works the fields herself.

verse 17— Because she is not afraid to put in hard work, she is physically strong. Part of honoring the Lord is staying healthy. Working out and eating healthy is how we steward our body to the Lord.

verse 18— She maintains a before-sunrise go after-sunset schedule because she cares for her family and they are her priority.

verse 19— Verse 13 we saw that she picked out materials for clothing, but here we learn that she is also the one crafting the clothes.

verse 20— Clearly, her family is very well provided for. She does not stop there. She is careful to remember those who are not provided for. She is faithful to remember the poor.

verse 21— She is not a procrastinator! She makes winter clothing for her family in the summer so they will be prepared when the cold comes.

verse 22— Fine linen is very expensive. This goes to show how the Lord is gracious to her in return.

verse 23— The wife creates a stable domestic life for her husband so he can succeed in his business and social affairs. A good reputation begins with a man’s home life.

verse 24— I don’t know about y’all but at this point I’m thinking HOW does this woman do everything? Just when you think she’s gonna lay down and take a nap, she’s making linen garments and selling them to a merchant. She contributes to the family’s financial gain.

verse 25— She does not live in fear or anxiety. She has this confidence not because she knows what the future holds, but because she knows how to rest in the one who does.

verse 26— This verse is exactly as it sounds. When she speaks, she offers fresh wisdom and new insight. She speaks with kindness to everyone she comes in contact with.

verse 27— She knows how to manage every aspect of the household. I love the second part, “she doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.” In other words, she is not lazy. She does not sleep the day away or waste time.

verse 28&29— She is well respected by her community. Both her children and husband praise her. Specifically, her husband says “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” I just love this compliment because it implies that the husband is more concerned with her inward beauty than outward. She loves the Lord more than she loves her husband. She strives for approval from the Lord instead of from her husband. All of these things he admires about her.

verse 30— I have the John MacArthur Study Bible and I love the note it makes on this verse— “True holiness and virtue command permanent respect and affection, far more than charm and beauty of face and form.”

verse 31— She has labored all her life to provide for her family in abundance. The greatest reward for her will be praise.

What qualities do you consider important in a woman? A lot of times we look for outward beauty, intelligence, sense of humor, confidence, or good style. One thing I am praying for myself is that the Lord would give me the desire to become more of what he wants me to be and less of who the world wants me to become.

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

So, who do I want to become? I went back through my notes (above) from reading the chapter, and listed the Proverbs 31 qualities below. These things are hard. They take discipline. Most of them do not come naturally, so I am asking the Lord to strengthen me in the areas where I am weakest. Write these qualities in your journal or tape them up on your door, bedpost, or mirror. Pray over them daily, reminding yourself to always always always seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).

rare, trustworthy, loyal, devoted, honoring, willing, joyful, wholehearted, generous, wise, a good steward, resourceful, gracious, diligent, hard working, good with time management, talented, giving, prepared, fruitful, intentional, confident, fearless, kind, respected, admired, & worthy of praise.