"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels." -Proverbs 31:10
Ahhh, the Proverbs 31 Woman. She's elusive. I can almost never find myself in her. I have striven to attain her status for years, with much failings. God has granted me the greatest grace in showing me that when I read Proverbs 31 I was almost always looking to her physical characteristics; the reason of my failings is that I don't sew my family clothes, I don't consider a field and purchase it and sell it for a profit, I don't get up while it's still dark to cook, and the list goes on. Although the text never states it as a requirement- but many people do in their own preferences, I was also dooming myself to fail because I have a job outside the home. I don't do ANYTHING that she does, am I even Christian? Ugh.
But I have to share something big with you, and I mean huge! I am not the Proverbs 31 woman because I fail at the spiritual side of things; my heart fails and my flesh well, it's the reason I clamor for her physical aspects. The Lord showed me this in how I battle with my temper and harsh speech towards my children. Proverbs 31:26 says that "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." I have not been doing that much at all. He convicted me so greatly on this. I generally feel rotten about the way I tend to talk to my children when they anger me, and I tell myself I'll do better next time. But God has shown me that if the teaching of kindness is to be on my tongue, that must mean how I teach my children about Christ will be in my gracious speech. They will learn about the tender mercies of Christ from Jim and I. I can teach them biblical principles all day long, require them to memorize Scriptures on how to treat others, but they will learn about the love of Christ in my dealings with them. Lord, please give me the patience and tender mercies you have shown me, in my relationship with my children.
It would be much easier for me to cross off the list of physical qualities in Ms. 31 than to be quiet before the Lord and examine my heart; to listen to what His Word says about what it means to be a woman who fears the Lord. I am undone. I am broken and I need fixin'! But praise be unto His holy name! He gives more grace! He shows me I can strive all day long but without His Spirit's enabling, I will be nothing. I don't want my kids and my husband to look back at our life together and say,"Wow, my Mom kept a really clean house, she learned to be crafty, and I think I remember her getting up at 4 a.m. so she could say she cooked us a hearty breakfast from scratch!" No, I want them to look back on this life, this temporary home and see that it was a place where love was spoken; wisdom was shared and above all it was a place where Christ was head and their mother failed daily but she looked to her God for strength, she prayed fervently and they saw God answer many prayers, she had a gentle and quiet spirit before the Lord, she dealt with them in meekness and tenderness, and where they were taught the Scriptures upon every rising and every setting sun.
If you don't mind, I think I will dedicate a few blog entries to these spiritual aspects of Ms. 31 and maybe together we can find a way to look to the eternal and the difficult and maybe, just maybe when we seek the Kingdom of God first, all those other things will be added unto us. Matthew 6:33 By the way, there is no maybe, It's a command from God and what he says, he will do!
The next entry will focus on verses 11-12 "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack in gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life."
Her price is far above rubies, and all the rich ornaments with which vain women adorn themselves. The more rare such good wives are the more they are to be valued.
-Matthew Henry
