Proverbs 31:10-31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Have you ever read this passage and thought, WHO is this woman? How can I meet her? Do I know someone like this?
I have several women in my life who are mentors, who I learn from, who challenge and encourage me in many ways. Women who are a lot like this Proverbs 31 Woman.
I have been thinking about this passage a lot lately, and trying to find ways to incorporate these qualities into my own life, my own character.
Can I, above all, fear the LORD?
Can I be worth far more than rubies?
Do my children call me blessed and my husband have full confidence in me and lack nothing of value?
Our pastor just spoke today about living our faith out, not just learning it. In even the smallest way, in even the most mundane moments of the day, I am trying to remember who I am and who my LORD is. I am constantly learning new ways to love, forgive, listen, encourage, support, reach out, share suffering, ease suffering, guide, nurture, lovingly discipline, challenge, believe, trust, hope.
In a more literal sense, I have been inspired by the Proverbs 31 Woman who “makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
I have opened my own Etsy shop, and I have been sewing like crazy. I haven’t sold anything yet, but I will keep you posted. Even seeing the number of people who have viewed each item is exciting.
I pray that this shop will be not only a creative outlet for me, but also a way to help Lord Herndon and I be good stewards of the blessings God has given us, including our finances. I pray that I can set about my work vigorously, and that my arms would be strong for the tasks. I pray that I can see that my trading is profitable, and that I can open my arms to the poor and extend my hands to the needy. I pray that, when it snows, I will have no fear for my household, for all of them will be clothed in scarlet.
