The Wife of Noble Character
Proverbs 31:10-31 describes "The Wife of Noble Character." Every Christian woman should strive to embody the qualities described in these verses. The noble wife is full of wisdom. She speaks and advises with confidence. This trait cannot be present without having God work in your life, for the "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7a). Without Jesus as the center of a family, it is natural for all members to be selfish, lazy, and foolish. Before I truly followed Christ in my daily living, my family was a wreck. I served them, yes, but all the while, I was focused on the things that I was "missing out on" by being a mom and a housewife. Praise God for changing my attitude and desires.
A wife of noble character "is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Because God has given me the wisdom to care for my family and prepare for the future, whatever it may bring, I can live without fear. I know that even if the store runs out of food, I can still feed my family. If storms come through, we will be warm and dry. If, God forbid, something were to happen to my husband, we are prepared to survive and make our way. Every day, I choose to learn something new or work harder for my family in one way or another. I desire to know more to keep them happy and healthy. I hope to continually find new ways to contribute financially, ensuring we remain secure through the grace of God.
"She sees that her trading is profitable," and "she considers a field and buys it."
Financial contribution, too, is part of being a wife of noble character. Modern feminists believe that Christians have the idea that women only stay home and raise the kids and care for the house. This idea may be partially true, but it is not the whole truth. A family should raise their own children, and I fully support and practice this. While the man of the house does the backbreaking work, it is the least I can do as his wife to keep the home clean and everyone fed. However, it is also my duty to find ways to generate income for the home. Having a growing family means growing expenses. The woman from this passage sells from her vineyard and makes linen garments to sell for a profit. In our modern Western world, we women must be slightly more creative to pursue this cause if we intend to stay home with our children and manage the house. I am blessed with an excellent work-from-home position that allows me to continue to homeschool my children. I have also worked on other smaller projects to create a little extra room in the bank account. A wife of noble character does not simply rely on her husband to generate all income and make all the financial decisions for her household. She has a responsibility as well, although she ultimately submits to his authority.
The woman of the house rises before dawn to ensure her family is fed and taken care of. This verse reminds me of an old Craig Morgan song titled "Tough". The line says, "She'll be the last to bed, she'll be the first one up." I agree! I'll be up until 11 or later, finishing up setting the kid's school work or cleaning the kitchen. I'll write early in the morning and prep food for the day before the sun is up. The day never slows down.
"She sets about her work vigorously."
Yesterday, I watched President Trump speak while honoring the late Charlie Kirk. He said something that I believe fits well here. He said that to succeed, you must be enthusiastic about what you are doing. I agree one hundred percent. On days when I feel off or my servant attitude feels like taking a vacation, I find it challenging to stay motivated to fulfill all my duties, but a woman of valor "works with eager hands." It is normal to feel burnout. We might spend a week feeling ready to start this new life, only to fall back into old habits within a few days. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, all that can change. If we keep our minds and hearts focused on eternity, we can embody all these qualities without burning out within a week.
"She is clothed in fine linen and purple."
One line in this descriptive section of Scripture that stuck out to me is that "she is clothed in fine linen and purple." A Proverbs 31 woman not only cares completely for her family and house, but she also takes care of herself. Her care is not at the expense of the household as a whole, however. The woman keeps herself up, stays healthy, and presentable. I would add feminine as well. I have never understood why women stop taking care of themselves simply because they get married and have children. I would rather my husband stay physically attracted to me and work at our marriage as though we are still dating, trying to keep and earn each other. Personally, I would be disappointed if my husband stopped caring for himself because we have already committed to each other. It is important not to cross the line into prideful vanity, but we ought to care for our bodies, as it is the temple of the Living God.
This dive into the woman of noble character is chasing after the wind without being a woman who fears the Lord. It cannot be done. "For the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). As much as we hate to admit it, we are weak without Him and cannot run the race cut out for us without keeping in constant connection with our Savior.