Proverbs 31 Wife

Yesterday at my MOPS meeting, we had an amazing marriage counselor there to share "What Men Wish We Knew" ...as their womenly companions. Good stuff!

Some of the things he shared was from Dr. Eggerichs' book "Love and Respect"...and his final illustration reminded me of whatI read in "Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti". Both great books that any couple should invest time into reading.

And then he shared the Word w/ us on what the Bible calls us to do & so I find myself, again reviewing the Proverbs 31 wife...

Here are my notes as I read from Proverbs 31:10-31 this morning...what is God calling me to do & be?

• v. 11, 12: We earn our husbands trust through our respect for them.
• v. 13: She is a hardworker - "works w/ her hands in delight".
• v. 14: She provides meals for her family - feeds them well.
• v. 15: She is up early ("while it is still night") to take care of her family, no hittin' the snooze button.
• v. 16: She is wise with money and investments. I bet she was disciplined w/it.
• v. 17: She strengthen her arms...I won't interpret this as "she does P90X...although, that would be good for some :) - she was not one of leisure and physical laziness.
• v. 18: She lasts all day long. She is strong enough & self-sacrificing enough to make it to the end of the day.
• v. 19-20: She reaches out to the poor and needy. Gives to the broken/those w/out.
• v. 21-22: She makes sure her family is dressed well - she handles the laundry! :)
• v. 23: Her husband is well known, more reason to be his respectful supporter.
• v. 24: She's working again...making linen & supplying belts. Hardworking mentioned again.
• v. 25: Strength and dignity - strong-minded, respectable herself.
• v. 26: Wisdom and kindess comes from her. Wisdom is sparce these days.  :(
• v. 27: "does not eat the bread of idleness" - laziness is a no-no. There are things to be done for "her household" - she gets up, gets going, and gets the job done @ home TOO!
• v. 28 - the rewards of all this hardwork and ambition: blessings from her kids, praises from her husband.
• v. 30: The KEY: charm & beauty is "deceitful & vain" - AND FLEETING!!!

***MOST IMPORTANTLY: a woman who fears the Lord will be praised!!!!***

• v. 31 - Her works will bring her praise in the gates...(where her husband was known, who sat w/ elders v. 23)

I always love reading this because it confirms some things to me:

1. The goal in life is not 'live on vacation'. It's not about who can do less...God calls us women and wives to work hard. Check out Titus 2:3-5 - there God calls us to be WORKERS AT HOME. Do a word study on laziness, slothfulness.
2. It is God's heartbeat throughout the Bible to 'take care the least of these'...we always need to remember the poor/hungry/homeless.
3. We must, must, must be good stewards over our finances. This is another area to show our husbands "RESPECT" - by doing what we "should do" w/ the $$$$ that they work so hard for.
4. She was wise. Do you pray for wisdom? James 1:5 says: But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously....it will be given to him. If you ain't got it - ask for it. It's God's will that we be wise women!
5. Our wisdom, hardwork, dignity, and strength will bring our husbands honor. Strong-minded is what I get. JESUS said to "let your yes be yes & your no be no" in Matthew 5:37. No double-mindedness (plus this really drives our husbands crazy, that's probably why God put that in there is for us when we want to go back & forth & change our minds. Right women? Do a word study on contentment to help you in this area.)
6. My favorite part: she was a woman who FEARED the Lord...and not like a kid who winces as his parents' yell in fear of being hit...but a child who knows what his dad says...a child who listens...because they know their dad's way is the best way. See God's way is best - His Word - the Bible is to be the absolute authority in our life. Not people's opinion, not what society approves, but WHAT GOD SAYS is the final ruling...and we need to submit to that.

So with that...if Proverbs 31 is God's Word, why not honor Him and our husbands and purpose in our hearts to be a Proverbs 31 wife.



Yes, this will take discipline.

This will take you telling your flesh to wake up early, no to things you want (not need), and doing what is right and what is necessary for your marriage and family to succeed.

See in v. 25 - "She smiled at the future" - her hardwork and dignified lifestyle of wisdom was her investment to honor God and her husband. Her hardwork would pave the way to a bright future - because when you do things God's ways....you get God's results.

Study this on your own...and pray and ask God what He is specifically calling you to do!

God bless!