Virtuous Woman

Proverbs 31:10-27

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Rubies are precious red stones that are expensive and pretty to look at. Any ornament that is made of rubies gets a look that is extravagant and simply superb. Who can find a virtuous woman? This says that hardly there are any virtuous women here on earth. This stuck a deep pierce in my heart few days before. The price of a virtuous woman is far worthier than rubies. Who would not be blessed to see a virtuous woman, who is far precious than rubies?

The characteristics of a virtuous woman are clearly laid out to lead the women to live such lives. The heart of a virtuous woman’s husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him well all the days of her life. Trust is a pivotal role in a marital relationship. Many marriages fail due to lack of this essential component. This should be two-ways. The virtuous woman does good to her husband all the days of her life and the husband safely trusts her. The trust is established in a beautiful relationship like this.

She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. She works diligently with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar. Merchants’ ships carry cargo and fleet from one harbor to the other. A virtuous woman brings her food from afar. What this means to me is she considers the best food for her household and picks it up from a distance considering the nutritional benefits as well as the associated price. She rises well before the sunrise and prepares food for her household and leaves a portion for her maidens. So, she makes sure that the meat is available before anyone wakes up and also makes sure everyone gets their share of food including the maidens. She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She is good at gardening and farming as well. She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. Girding up loins means to get ready by tightening the belt. When we tighten our belts, our movement at work becomes light and easy. She strengthens her arms by working vigorously with them; she perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night. She works till late in the night. She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. That is she works with wool and flax. She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. Poor and needy are addressed as well. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”. Just like this virtuous woman, we should also take up the cause of serving the poor and the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. In other words, she is well-prepared for a coming storm. Everyone at home is provided the right equipment needed to protect them from a coming storm for she foresees the need and addresses it well ahead of time. She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her home is well decorated and furnished by her own hands. When the household members enter in such a home they feel the warmth of a beautiful home built by hearts, cared for by loving hands, and surrounded by beautiful furnishings that look appealing to the eye. There is no shortage for anything in a home where the virtuous woman is the mistress. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She strives to keep the reputation of her husband and he is known well among the elders in the land. She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant. In fact, she is her husband’s soulmate and helpmate from home to merchandise.

Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Strength comes from endurance; endurance builds patience. When strength is a virtue of a woman, we can see what other beautiful traits she already possesses. Honor is to maintain dignity and reputation among the people of her land. I picture Ruth as one virtuous woman. Boaz says to Ruth in Ruth 3:11: “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” How wonderful is Ruth’s reputation for all the city of Bethlehem knew of her honor! A virtuous woman opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 4:6-7 speaks of wisdom as: “Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” A virtuous woman is a woman of highest wisdom. She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness. She does not eat the bread of idleness nor wastes her resources. Proverbs 18:9 says, “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”

Who wants to be this virtuous woman? I think it is high time that we women pray and seek God’s face to help us be virtuous women to serve the Lord, to care for our husbands, to keep our household going in the right direction, not idling our time, keeping God at the center of our hearts, bearing strength and honor as our ornaments and all the above mentioned qualities. Lord, this is the cry of my heart. Help me in my journey to strive to be this virtuous woman merely by your grace and strength. I am sure the Lord will regard our prayers and shower us with His grace and mercy in our desire to be virtuous women.

Next: Joanna, the wife of Cuza