proverbs31-woman.com

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The final verse of this book! It took me almost a year to get through this – that hadn’t been my intention when I first started but it seems fitting I finish the last verse on the last day of the year.

This verse shows that the Proverbs 31 woman bears fruit for all she has done. She has virtue, she is faithful, she is a loving and caring mother and wife who provides for her family all that is necessary, she is a good manager, is a good worker and is industrious, she is wise in business, kind in nature, looks out for those who are needy, she is praiseworthy, excels at what she does and fears the Lord. A tall order for us all to aim for, and yet if we aim for nothing we will get just that – nothing! I can’t profess to be a Proverbs 31 Woman – at least not in entirety, but that is my aim.

I will continue to post periodically as I think of things that relate to this topic and I welcome your comments which might also encourage discussion. Bless you and thank you for coming to read this blog.  KMT

Charm is deceptive, and beauty if fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

There are few things which last longer than life itself, but our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ does, along with God and the Holy Spirit. We can show so much charm, we can hide our facade of who we really are for only so long, but eventually weaknesses show through, the cover or armour gets chipped, corners get broken. The beauty we have with youth matures and changes with age – some for the better as they get older, and others look rather weathered and worse off.

If a man chooses to marry a woman based simply on her charm and her good looks, he stands to be disappointed some time later – sometimes much sooner than later. I believe that’s why marrying in haste can be disastrous. And if one marries purely for the sake of passion and lust, it will not be long-lasting. Many get married mistaking these feelings for love. It takes time to get to know the real person underneath, and to understand how that person is made up. But, if the woman is someone who fears and loves the Lord with all her heart, then the man who is set on marrying her stands to benefit from a jewel in his life – someone who is worth far more than rubies, as verse 10 in this book tells us. The beauty within goes far deeper than skin, looks and charm, and the heart of this woman is something to be valued and respected, and fully appreciated.  More than that, the man can trust and know that she hears from the Lord and will respect and love her husband as God intended.

Blessed is the man who seeks and marries a woman who understands Proverbs 31 and who seeks to be the best she can be.

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all

In some bible versions it says ‘daughters’ rather than women and talks of ‘excellence’ rather than being ‘noble’. Who is it that has surpassed them all? And what is it that she’s done so excellently?

I believe that it is referring in entirety to the Proverbs 31 woman and how she has carried herself, and her role as mother, wife, woman in an excellent and noble manner, that she has surpassed all others in the way she carries herself.

Such a high ideal for us all to meet, but certainly one worth aiming for. Have you noticed how if you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it? Then so must we hit something if we aim at something – even if it isn’t the bullseye.

If your life’s goal is to be a Proverbs 31 woman, to provide for your family through your gifts, abilities, resources at hand, etc, then your family will certainly benefit and you can be sure of receiving a message of ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ when your time is done here on earth. For what better cause is there than to bring up children to be God-fearing adults and to care for and support a hard-working husband, being in total partnership with him? Eve was created to be a help-mate to her husband, Adam, and so it is with us today. Men and women, partners in the household and family, each carrying out their particular roles for the benefit of each member of the family.  Perhaps there is some merit in that phrase ‘behind every successful man is a woman’ – particularly if she is a Proverbs 31 woman.  KMT

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Blessed is the woman whose children appreciate her. Little kids do but as the children grow older, they often tend to take mum for granted. It’s not until they, themselves, become parents that they begin to appreciate all that mum did for them. And if mum is truly blessed, they’ll let her know just how much they appreciate her for all she’s done. On occasion it might even happen before a child becomes a parent themselves.

We’ve brought up five daughters and it’s not been without its challenges. I have had moments when one or the other of the girls have made it known how much they appreciate something that I have done for them. But there have been times when no appreciation has been shown and that’s when my husband has been a real blessing – letting me know that he understands and appreciates all I’ve done for the girls, as they’ve been growing up. I know that as our girls become mothers, a new relationship between them and me will develop and I’ll have opportunity to mentor and teach younger women, just as we’re taught in Titus 2:4. KMT

Proverbs 31:28, blessed, Titus 2:4, appreciation