The Virtuous Woman Series

Title: The Virtuous Woman

Theme: To show the importance of a wife

Text: Proverbs 31:10-31

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

This passage is designed for three people

1. The man looking for a wife. In it we see the qualities that he must look for. Understanding as the last part of Proverbs reads,"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:"

2. The young lady who will one day become a wife. Here is here example on how to be a wife. She here has a true guideline. It allows here to not go by the opinion of the world or by the opinion of her husband but of what God’s word says.

3. The wife. The one who has found her mate. She is married but she still needs that standard. Maybe her husband doesn’t expect as much or more. She must live up to the goal of God’s word. I don’t know if it is attainable for a wife but it is definitely what one must work to.

But notice I did not say that it is for the husband. Husbands would love to know that God gave them rules by which they can judge their wives. This is not the purpose of Proverbs. God does not intend for a husband to hound a wife about her faults although we do and it is very hard not to. Actually many times criticism is easier than complements. It is easier to tell her what she does wrong than what she does right. We get used to what she does right and when a time comes where she makes a mistake then we point it out.

It is not a husbands job to use this to criticize his wife. Actually the way a man can change his wife is by first changing himself and through prayer. When the wife sees this she is so overwhelmed with love and conviction that she herself begins to change.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

What a question to ask? Who can find a virtuous woman? Who can find a woman of strong character?

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

trust worthy. She is trusted by her husband in all her endeavors. From her personal life. I believe trust is an important factor. It takes two. 1) the trust of the husband 2) the subjection of a wife. If there is not trust then a marriage can fall. And the question must be asked, Why can’t he trust me? What am I doing?

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Her goal is first to her God second to her husband and third to her children.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:22-24 AV)

For some wives this would be hard but for the virtuous woman this would not be. She understands that she is the helpmeet to her husband. Not the servant but the helpmeet. She has a role in the family as so does her husband.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She doesn’t mind working. As I said she does her part to keep the family together.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She is thrifty. If anything most women have a tendency to be thrifty and but thrifty. They know how much they got and how much to spend and they work it out. How many men do you know carry grocery list with them shopping and knowing where best to buy each item.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She is willing to work all night to get the job done.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. {buyeth: Heb. taketh}

Here we speak of stewardship. I think that it is no surprise that many a women in the home handle the check book. I don’t think that it is biblical either way. Although I not much on having separate checking accounts except under special circumstances. But as long as it is not hoarded over one another there is nothing wrong with one handling the check book.

Women are good stewards. Why? Because most of the time they are good thinkers. They take time. I should hear some Amens.