"a Godly Woman"

“A Godly Woman”

Proverbs 31:10-31

David P. Nolte

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seek “Crabtree Christian Church”

This is Mothers Day and I wish every mother a very happy day!

Thomas Edison said, “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never likely have become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of different mental caliber, I should have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her goodness, were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was the making of me. The memory of her will always be a blessing to me.”

What a loving tribute to a mother. I want to point out some characteristics of a mother worthy of such a high tribute.

Let’s read words recorded by King Lemuel. Little is known about Lemuel except that his name means "devoted to God." Some believe that Lemuel was king of Massa in northern Arabia. He wrote some 400 years after Solomon had completed compiling Proverbs 1-28. He was a king who received very wise and insightful teachings from his mother which he wrote down and which comprises chapter 31.

Now let us look at what King Lemuel wrote. I will take his words in “patches” as we progress. What are the characteristics of a godly woman (and man)?

I. A GODLY WOMAN IS TRUSTWORTHY:

A. “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12 (NASB).

1. She will always be faithful.

2. She will stick with him through thick or thin – for better or worse – in sickness and in health – in feast or in famine – come rain or come shine!

3. Though all others leave, fail, forsake or deceive him, she will be there by his side, and on, his side.

B. She is trustworthy and faithful and:

1. She does good not evil or harm. I knew a woman in Klamath Falls who hired thugs to harass her estranged husband and to make his life miserable. But none of that for the godly woman.

2. “She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27 (NASB). I know a lady who, when her children were still at home, was perfectly content to lie on the couch issuing orders: “Bring me a sandwich!” “Get the laundry done!” and yakity-yakity-yak.

C. But the godly mother is in no way like that!

1. She does good, and provides for her household.

2. She seeks to serve rather than to be served.

D. This characteristic also applies to all of us in relation to Jesus Christ.

1. Does He find us trustworthy?

2. Is He pleased with our level of faithfulness?

3. Can He count on us in the crunch?

4. Can other people see our commitment to God by our lives?

5. Do other people see us walking our talk?

6. Can other people tell that our private life and our public life match?

E. Jesus made a profound statement about trustworthiness. "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.” Matthew 24:45-46 (NASB).

In that line, I have confession to make. While I attended Northwest Christian College, I was blessed with a job as dishwasher at the Timber Topper Buffet in Springfield. One slow night when we were pretty well caught up, I took the sprayer and shot my friend Jim York in the back. He grabbed a wet towel and threw it at me. I ducked and he hit the cook full in the face. Suddenly we quieted down and just in time because the boss arrived about 5 minutes later. Had he been earlier, we would have been busted and he would not have counted our antics as trustworthy behavior.

Godly woman is trustworthy and:

II. A GODLY WOMAN IS TIRELESS:

A. “She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.” (13-19). (That last part is translated in the NLT as, “Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.”). The text goes on, “She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.” (31:22). “She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.” (31:24). “She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.” (31:27).