A Virtuous Woman

July 31, 2013

A Virtuous Woman

Proverbs 31:10, 30

New King James Version (NKJV)

10 Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.  (keyword: Virtuous wife)

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  (Keyword: woman who fears the Lord)

Proverbs 30, 8-9

8 Open your mouth for the speechless,

In the cause of all who are appointed to die.    

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And plead the cause of the poor and needy.   (Keyword:  defending the defenseless)

Commentary:

Proverbs 31:10 talks of the virtuous woman.  She is a woman of excellence, a woman of valor (personal bravery).  She is the crown of her husband because she represents her husband.  The crown (mark of victory and honor) represents royalty.  Therefore, a virtuous wife is precious and priceless.  She is of royalty to her husband.  

Proverbs 31:30 mentions that beauty is passing.  How many women do you know that likes to dress pretty, wear makeup, high heels, use perfume, wear lots of jewelry, show cleavage, wear mini-skirts?  A whole bunch, right?   How many do you know who dress modest?  Not too many? I have visited many churches and have seen the attires of the sisters.  And I ask myself this question.  

Why would a sister-in-Christ dress in a mini-skirt with cleavage showing at church?  Is she really in church to worship God or to play and hook up with guys?  The answer is obvious.  God told us not to judge. “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1) However, fruit inspection is allowed. “For every tree is known by its own fruit.”  (Luke 6:44a)  We know that  you can tell much about a tree by its fruits.  In the same way, you can tell much about a woman by her attire, speech, mannerism and character.   

A godly woman’s attractiveness is her character, not her costly clothing.  (Hayford)

1 Timothy 2:9-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Thus, may we as women of God seek dress modestly and develop characters that glorify God instead of trying to look like a Christmas tree wherever we go.   For if the women in church choose to dress scantily, where is the testimony that glorifies God?  

Proverbs 30:8-9 talks of defending the defenseless.  We are to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.  There are many people out there who are poor in spirit and in need of many things ( i.e. money, direction, friends, homes, wise counsel, and the list goes on and on).  If God is tugging at our hearts to reach out to the least one of these, we are to do so.  But how can God tug at our hearts to help others unless we are walking with Christ?  How can we walk with Christ unless we have destroyed the flesh and have submitted completely to Christ?  

Conclusion:  Crucify the flesh, yield to Christ Jesus and be used by God to  defend the defenseless.  If we are still in the flesh, we are still into ourselves,  what WE need and what WE want.   If we are still in the flesh, we are spiritually blind and will not be able to see the ministry opportunities around us.  If we don’t see those opportunities, we will not serve the Lord.  If we don’t serve the Lord, we are serving the devil by default AND we miss out on the blessings that God wants to give us.  See the big picture?

Poem:

Herein lies a woman of valor

Committed to excellence in her life

Who has chosen to live the straight and narrow

for she is the purpose-driven wife

To dress modestly, to honor the Lord

to always be mindful to be kind

To have a gentle spirit and a helping hand

To be virtuous until the end of time

Byword:  A virtuous wife will fear the Lord and defend the defenseless.

Work Cited

Hayford, Jack W., Spirit filled Life Bible NKJV, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991.

Aldwin and Wendy Naruse

The Body of Christ Jesus Fellowship

Makaha, HI USA