What the Women of the Bible Have Taught Me

Proverbs 31

A Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant's ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day's work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!"

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs has been my "go to" book of the Bible for quite some time. I was always very intrigued with the story of Solomon and how he asked for wisdom, not for himself, but in order to execute God's will for the people. God saw his heart and not only granted him wisdom but also riches and power. Recently I read a book called Captivating by John Eldridge and his wife. This book was different in that it didn't talk about how we, as women, are not enough and need do more in order to be in right standing with God. The thought of being a Captivating woman spoke to me  deeply and I wanted to see myself in that way. This made me wonder what the Bible had to say about being a woman and a good wife, not through the words of man but through the stories of the women that were so influential that they were mentioned by name. There are many things that we can learn from these women and hopefully this book will speak to you on some level and give you the assurance that God loves who you are as a woman and through you great things will come.

The Proverbs 31 woman is hardworking and fears the Lord. She does what she can with what she has given and those around her are captivated by her. So much so that they are always ready to speak well of her. She trusts in God wholeheartedly and imparts her wisdom on those younger than her. She is strong and capable of anything God calls her to do. She is the woman we should all strive to be.