The Excellent Wife-Proverbs 31

Transcript

GR 795
7/17/1988
The Excellent Wife-Proverbs 31
Selected Verses
Gil Rugh

We’re talking about the Biblical role of a woman and particularly the role of a wife. Want to review two passages with you before we go to Proverbs 31. First, 1 Timothy chapter 5. 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 14. We’ve seen in 1 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 15 that the focal point of a woman’s life is the home. The care, the raising of children, those things associated with the home. In 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 14 the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach.” There he is talking about the issue of widows. Earlier in the chapter he talks about older widows, now he talks about younger widows. Here we see God’s intention for the younger widow. Parallels his intention for younger women period. They are to get married, bear children, keep house. I want you to take note of that, we will be referring to that in our Old Testament passage today. Keep house, translation of the word despot. She’s the despot of the house. The home is her realm or domain is the point here. She rules in the realm of the home. Now we’ve seen in our previous studies that the man is ultimately the head of the woman, so he’s also the head of the home. But in submission to him, she has the home as her domain, and we as men ought to realize that. I am the head of my home, my wife is submissive to my leadership, I need to recognize that God has called her to this domain. That’s the area that she gives her life to and I respect her insights and decisions and leadership in the home and I support that with my authority.

Then over in Titus chapter 2, the older women are to be teaching and encouraging the younger women and again the focal point is the home and the character of a godly young woman. Verse 4. The older women are to be teaching what is good, “so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, being kind, subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Again the focal point is on young women learning their responsibilities and carrying out those responsibilities in the context of the home. Learning to be workers at home, being subject to their own husbands, loving their husbands, loving their children. That’s the focal point for the woman, that’s where God has created her, what God has created her for. The realm of the home, that’s a support and helper for her husband.

You come back to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. The book of Proverbs has much to say about women and much of it is not favorable. It is put in a negative context. The book of Proverbs has severe and strong warnings about the immoral woman, back beginning in chapter 2 just as a background. Here the son is exhorted and encouraged to pay attention to the instructions that he is receiving. To the godly wisdom that he is being given because in verse 16 of Proverbs 2, this will be, “to deliver you from the strange woman.” The strange woman in Proverbs is the immoral woman. “From the adulteress who flatters with her words; that leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to dead; none who go to her return again, nor do they reach the paths of life.” Serious words about immorality and the immoral woman and her influence on a man. In chapter 5, the chapter opens up exhorting a young man to give attention to wisdom and then verse 3: “The lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death her steps take hold of Sheol. She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable and she does not know it.” It goes on, down to close out the chapter with an exhortation that men are to be absorbed and intoxicated with their wives. Verse 20, the end of verse 19: “Be exhilarated always with her love.” That last statement, literally be intoxicated with her love. Men are to be drunk with the love of their wives if you will. Totally consumed with their love for them. Chapter 6, chapter 7, more warnings about the immoral woman. Over in chapter 22 verse 14, “The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.” It’s a curse to get into an adulterous relationship. Again, you see the emphasis here on the responsibility of the adulteress. The mouth of the adulteress is a deep pit. Now this is never to say that the man is not responsible in immorality, but the emphasis of these verses we’ve been looking at is on the immoral woman, her responsibility. In chapter 23 verse 27: “A harlot is a deep pit and an adulterous woman is a narrow well.” Again that emphasis on the negative aspect that a woman can be and do as she departs from faithfulness.

Proverbs has much to say about a contentious woman and some of these verses we use sometimes in a humorous way or a joking way but they are very serious. In chapter 19 of Proverbs verse 13: “A foolish son is destruction to his father, and the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.” Again, that’s rather negative. The contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. I had a husband tell me one time, “Gil I’ve learned. That I’m married to a woman who has strong feelings and it’s easier if I give in early and just get it over with.” Well what he is saying here is that the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping, I can’t stand the constant hassle. Chapter 21 verse 9: “It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” There’s worse things than not having your own house. It’s better to live in a corner of a roof than it is to have to live in a house with a woman who is contentious. Verse 19. Maybe you’d better give up the corner of your roof. “It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and vexing woman.” Chapter 25 verse 24: “It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” Chapter 27 verse 15: “A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike; he who would restrain her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.” You just can’t turn her off, just can’t stop her. Now, these are not only negative comments about the potential that a woman has for harm and making difficulty but they show the potential and tremendous value and power that a woman and a wife has. She has a place of central importance, no one can make such an impact in the home or in her husband’s life that the woman can. And when she functions improperly, great harm is the result.

Now we’ve looked at those not because I want to say negative things about the woman but because that helps you appreciate what he is going to say in Proverbs 31. A woman is of tremendous significance and importance and when she does not function properly it is a disaster in the home, it is a disaster for the husband. We need to be very careful, we talk about the submissiveness of the woman. Now we ought not to take that to mean that her influence and her power and her abilities are limited. The condition of the home is a large measure reflected by the character of the woman. You’re in Proverbs 31, let me read you from Proverbs 14 verse 1: “The wise woman builds her house, the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” You see that emphasis. The wise woman builds her house, the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. You see what we’re saying? That the woman has the power in the home to build it for good or to destroy it. Again, that’s not to minimize the effectiveness of a man in the home. What have drunken men done to their homes? What have unfaithful men done to their homes? That is all true. The focal point here is on the power and the influence of the woman.

Come over to Proverbs chapter 31. Last chapter of the book of Proverbs. What you have here is picked up from what a statement that was made back in Proverbs 19:14. A good wife is from the Lord. That verse tells you, you can get wealth from your parents, you have to get a good wife from the Lord. Proverbs 31 is going to talk about a good wife. The first nine verses talk about the instruction of a mother to the son and the son here happens to be king, king Lemuel. And it may be another name for King Solomon. By and large these are the Proverbs of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Here are the instructions which his mother taught him and we’re not going to go through these first nine verses but you see the key role that the mother plays in the development of the character of the son. She’s given him instruction on living his life, on conduct, on administering justice, all things that he learned from his mother. She had a key part in molding and shaping his character. And note the impact and influence that this woman, through her son, he is the king. So here is a woman that we might say does not play a significant role, but she plays a very significant role because her son whose values and character she has developed now rules the nation. And you begin to appreciate the power and influence of the mother in the home. I think this has much to say about what we are doing in giving the raising of our children from youngest ages over to other people. Where a mother leaves that responsibility and realm to go and do something else. There is nothing that even touches in importance. Being a mother, no matter what else a woman could do, it’s not on the same level. Now I realize some woman will be single, some women are barren; but the fact is, the number one position that a woman can have is that of motherhood and then investing her life in that home and in those children. Now I realize the world doesn’t see it this way, the world values doing things apart from the home. Children are a burden. We come to the word of God we see God’s perspective. Cause this is the great influence of the mother, we need to find this kind of woman.

Verse 10: “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.” In light of the value of a godly woman, an excellent woman, a woman of wisdom and honor and valor. Who can find a woman like this? That doesn’t mean they are impossible to find, it means they are difficult to find. An excellent woman who can find? Well you have to get that excellent woman that excellent wife from the Lord according to Proverbs 19:14. That word excellent mean honorable, a woman of valor. Excellent I think gives a broad feel. Now we’re going to go no with the scribe what is an excellent wife. One who’s value is far above jewels. Better to have an excellent wife than great wealth. This is a provision from the Lord. The description here has gotten much attention in recent days, some good and some bad. With the emphasis on the feminist movement and Christians trying to find support for the role of women outside the home, Proverbs 31 has become a focal point. One thing I want you to notice when we look into Proverbs 31. It always interests me as I read the Biblical feminists, they want to reject much of the Old Testament because it was written within the framework of a patriarchal society. Men led. But they want to take Proverbs 31 and make it the outstanding example of a feminist. Now keep in mind that Proverbs 31 was written regarding an excellent woman within the framework of a patriarchal society. And for this to have any meaning and significance of these people, they are going to have to be able to understand it. And of course our view of inspiration clarifies things, there can be no contradiction with what is said here and with what is said elsewhere in the Bible. And I think what we are going to find in Proverbs 31 is the details unfolded of what we read in 1 Timothy 5:14 where a woman’s domain is the home, she is the despot of the home. In Titus chapter 2 where she is to learn to be a worker at home, here is unfolded 22 verses on the woman being the ruler of the home, a worker at home. Just as a point of interest, it doesn’t make a lot of difference to us with our English Bibles, this is an acrostic poem. By that we mean every verse begins with a different letter of the Hebrew letter, there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Each of these 22 verses begins, so we would do it, the first verse begins with A, the second B, the third C, D, E, F, working through the alphabet. But we can’t carry that over, that’s impossible to reproduce in another language, but you ought to note that the Hebrews made it a little bit more interesting than we were able to do.

We are going to begin with this excellent woman, this excellent wife, and you start with her relationship to her husband, verse 11. “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” The first thing to observe is the relationship and part she plays with her husband. She is his confidence if you will. She is his support, stability. “The heart of her husband trusts in her, she does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Contrast to some of the woman that we’ve seen described that we’ve looked at earlier in Proverbs. Here is a woman who is a firm support for her husband. “He will have no lack of gain.” She meets his every need you might say. No question about her, she is behind him, she is doing what will be necessary to enable him to reach his potential as a husband and as a man as we’ll see in a moment. What is involved in this? Well, for the woman to be the one the husband can trust in, does him good and not evil all the days of her life, now were going to turn and look at the details of the home. And beginning with verse 13 then down through the following verses, we are going to see the activity of this woman in relationship to the home.

I was interested to read one commentator and let me read it to you. “She is a wife. The modern conception of a woman as an independent person, standing alone, engaged in her own business or profession, complete in her isolated life is not to be looked for in the book of Proverbs.” Now what interested me about that. You think that somebody wrote that today, that was written 100 years ago. So I wonder what he would think about that if he would read some of our things today. Even then he recognized, were focusing on the home here. “She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.” What we’re going to find out about this woman is she is very industrious. She is very hard-working. Remember Proverbs 2? She is to learn to be a worker at home, and here is a woman who is very busy and she is working. She gathers the material to make things, which was necessary in that day obviously. And “like a merchant ship she brings her food from afar.” She’s willing to look around and get the best for her family. So like ships that bring in things from afar. She just doesn’t do the easiest thing at hand. She inconveniences herself for the good of her family and she will go out to get the things that they need wherever it might be.

Verse 15: “She rises while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.” Maidens here, some say daughters, some say servants, probably servants here. You note, she sees that they are provided for. This isn’t a wealthy woman propped up on the couch being served. Indication seems to be she is a wealthy woman, but that does not mean as a godly woman she is freed from the responsibilities of her home. We sometimes get the idea, well our day means women are freed from the home. We have modern inventions, we have the kind of money that women are set free from being tied to the home. Well this woman was so to speak. Could have hired to get it all done. That’s not the point. Here she is up before dawn to see that the food is prepared for the family and that they are taken care of.

Verse 16 has been an interesting verse. “She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.” Now some who are looking for support for the wife to get employment out of the home say, here we’ve got a real estate lady. She’s out buying and selling in the man’s world and you know she makes money, she does a good deal. One commentator said, here she sells one piece of land, then she buys another piece, then she sells it for a profit. I think we ought to be careful what we read into this because some of the commentators did note that that would be unusual in a patriarchal society. I think if we read it first, verse 16. “She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.” Now there has been no comment on buying and selling land. That from her earnings in real estate, she plants a vineyard. All it says here is she considers a field and buys it, where did the earnings come from? Well the earnings come from the things that she makes according to the chapter. We’ll read through these. She makes things with her hands and sells them. So don’t get too carried away with the land deal here. Also, she plants a vineyard. She does buy a field and she plants a vineyard in it. Think we ought to consider what is going on. One Jewish commentator says that a vineyard was a necessary part of every homestead. So he is a Jewish commentator, just saw this as what would have been part of the home in Biblical times. Every home had a vineyard and it seems to have fallen to the wife or the women to care for the vineyard. Look over in Song of Solomon chapter 1. You’re in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes is next, Song of Solomon is next. Everybody ought to know how to find Song of Solomon. I read Song of Solomon again this week and it’s a fun book. Song of Solomon chapter 1. Again, written by the man Solomon. Here about the woman he is to marry. Verse 6: “Do not stare at me because I am swarthy” (or black). She had been burned by the sun and in those times that was not desirable. Those were the common working people perhaps that had to be sunburned. So she explains her darkened tan, “the sun has burned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own vineyard.” Now in the analogy here, she is probably talking about the responsibilities to do other things and she hasn’t taken care of herself. But you’ll note the analogy she draws from taking care of her own vineyard. But it seemed that she’s tying it to something that would be a woman’s role and using that as a comparison with herself. Taking care of her own vineyard. The analogy of taking care of herself with a vineyard would be meaningless if women didn’t take care of the vineyard. She didn’t use an analogy of going to war because women didn’t go to war. So she uses the analogy within the framework of what they would understand, women taking care of the vineyard. But she is given responsibility for other vineyards, she couldn’t care for her own vineyard. I think that’s helpful when you come back to Proverbs 31 and she buys a field and plants a vineyard. That was part of the responsibility of taking care of the home. The juice and the wine formed the major drink for the family. Part of her provision for. Didn’t go to the grocery store in those days and buy you know several gallons or quarts, they made it. That was part of the provisions in the homes, like the gardening, or food, the making of the clothes. So I think we read verse 16 just in the context, note it’s placed in here as providing for her family. Giving food to her household in verse 15, she also provides the drink in verse 16. Food in verse 15, drink in verse 16. She is a woman who sees her family is provided for. So the buying the field here would be within the framework of her household responsibilities. She needs a vineyard, it’s her responsibility as a wife and a mother and so she sees that’s provided for.

Verse 17. This is a good, strong woman. “She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” She is a hard worker. Again, this is not a wealthy woman lying around with time on her hands. Try to remember were talking about the excellent wife, one that God would provide. She works hard. She strengthened her arms.

“She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.” She manages her household well and there is an understanding even till today that refers to the fact of a lamp going out. I wrote it down but I wrote it on another piece of paper, but it’s a sign of abject poverty to have a lamp go out. Now here is the picture, she has provided for the home. Would be like we talk about a wife today, if her husband gets paid, every two weeks or once a month you make provision to last until the next paycheck. And if you don’t that wouldn’t be good stewardship and if there’s not enough money to do it then that would be a sign of poverty. So here, her lamp doesn’t go out. She senses that her gain is good, she is making the kind of provision that will take care of them.

“She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.” Number of times, verse 19, verse 22, verse 24, talk about her making things with her hands. She sews things for her family, so it’s not again just something assigned to someone, she is working and being busy about her responsibility.

Her work goes beyond just meeting the needs of her family. Now we see something that is a concern in our society. “She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.” So the context would seem to indicate as she is making things, she also reaches out to the poor. She makes not only enough for her family. Here were talking about the clothes in particular, verse 19, as she is spinning with the spindle in that; but she also takes into consideration the needs of others and prepares for them as well. So the poor she’s aware of and the needy, she is preparing for them as she is preparing for her family. Now we’ll see the role of a woman here and a wife and a mother in being involved in meeting the needs of needy people as well. Key responsibility of the woman and wife and the mother.

“She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” Now there’s an indication again that there are some means in this home, they are clothed with scarlet, that’s a mark of wealth. She’s not afraid of the snow, all her household are clothed with scarlet. She doesn’t fear the cold weather, and they do get snow sometimes in Palestine in the winter months. It doesn’t last long but it’d be damp, cold, miserable weather and they would need the right clothing. They didn’t have central heating in those days. And she provides for it, there is no problem. And she provides well, they are dressed well. Now that doesn’t mean you have to be rich, but it is a mark here of her industriousness, her working hard to see that her children and her family’s needs are well provided for.

“She makes coverings for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.” Her clothing is okay too. Fine linen. I’ve done some shopping with Marilyn and I noticed that linen is expensive, still is. This purple, made from the shellfish and you only got a couple of drops out of a shellfish. So if you’re going to dye a garment purple it took lots of shellfish which meant lots of money involved. And the point here is she is doing well and she’s dressed well, there is no problem with a wife being dressed well. As far as I’m concerned Marilyn should dress very well, anything she makes she can wear. Okay. I probably won’t use that the next hour, Marilyn is in the nursery this hour, so. Everybody runs and tell Marilyn in the nursery what I said in this hour and then she asks me about it at home.

Note what happens in verse 23. Again, she’s not selfish, she provides clothes for her family, she provides for herself because it is a reflection on her husband. “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.” I think it’s remarkable here. Her faithfulness in the home and with the home is very significant in her husband’s success. We’re talking about the excellent wife, the excellent woman. And we’ve talked now from verse 10 down through verse 22 about her activity with the home, her energy in the home, her supervision of the home, her provision, and now we find her husband is known when he sits among the elders in the gate. And I think that draws attention to the fact that her husband’s success is a testimony and credit to her and that will come out later on in the chapter as well. He sits in the gates, he is known among the elders. That’s the place where the business was transacted, where decisions were made, where justice was administered. To sit with the elders in the gate was to be part of the leading men of that city. You know what it takes? It takes an excellent wife to enable that to happen. Now the world looks at it and says, “Look the husband gets all the credit. The husband gets all the attention, here she has been working at home, been running the spindle, been making clothes, been planting a vineyard, been doing all of this, getting up before dawn for food, and here’s her hubby sitting in the gate.” But that’s a testimony to her and her excellence as a wife and a keeper of the home. That’s what has enabled him to be what he is. There is no conflict and this is complimentary. In my ministry I get the attention from preaching and teaching, but the position I have is a testimony and a credit to the wife I have. Due to the environment that she creates in the home, it’s her ministry and support to me that enables me to be what God wants me to be and so eternity will reveal how much of the rewards go to the wives who have been behind the scenes. But you know without the glory that goes with it, the world doesn’t want to be stuck behind the scenes. Who wants to be home running the spindle when he’s sitting in the gates? I want to be in the gates! I want to have some influence, I want to be important. To be this kind of woman it takes a special measure of the grace of God to be willing to do and be what God wants you to be and do and see success in light of the approval of God, not the approval of the world. But even the approval of the world will be seen here in a moment. “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.” Down in verse 31: “Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Now to connect that, that there is praise to her in the gates. You know those that are in the gates, these important men realize this guy’s wife is what’s made it possible for him to be here. A number of you have mentioned to me how fortunate I am to have the wife that I have and I realize that. Not always as much as I should, but here in the gates, let her works praise her in the gates. Why can he be in the gates, why can he be in that position? He has a wife that’s willing to invest her life in him and in that home. That’s self-sacrificing for the benefit for her husband and her family.

“She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.” Now here again you see how some money flows in, where did she get money to buy land for the vineyard? Well just like she makes extra for the poor, she also makes extra that can be sold. You ought to note. When we talk about women and working and so on, the issue is not whether there is income involved or not, that is not the basic issue at hand. Here is a woman who generates income, she makes things and sells them. So the point is not that a woman should never make any money. The point is the focus is the home. That’s the point. So this woman not only makes enough for the home, she makes enough for the poor. She not only makes enough for the poor, but she also makes enough to sell some of it too. And that generates income. She supplies belts to the tradesman.

Verse 25: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.” Why? Here’s a woman, strength and dignity are her clothing. The character of the woman is what is key here. And her character enables her to do the things that need to be done. She smiles at the future, she has made provision. She’s been busy, she hasn’t been watching soap operas all day, she is not worried about tomorrow. She has planned, she rules the home well. Any wonder her husband is free to be in the gate. He is not worried about the home, he is not taken up with the details of that. He doesn’t’ have to worry that she get up and see that the food was provided. I wonder if we’re going to have enough wine to see us through. The home is provided for.

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Her words, evidence, godliness. She speaks kindness. So this is not a haggard woman. That oh boy, I’m worn out, don’t tell me your troubles. You ought to be me, I’ve been sewing all day, I was up before dawn seeing that the food was ready, I had to go out and check on the vineyard and do some work there, then the tradesmen came for their belts and I was just finishing up and there was this poor lady down the road, and now you come home and want dinner. What have you been doing? Sitting in the gate. Any wonder verse 10 says, “An excellent wife, who can find her?”

Verse 27: “She looks well to the ways of her household.” Remember Titus 2? Older women teach younger women to be workers at home. We’ve got women who are at home who are frustrated because they have never learned to be workers at home and to just be at home doesn’t get the job done. Have to learn to be busy about the kind of things that are profitable in connection with my home and you’ll note here, that involves meeting the needs of others like the poor and needy in verse 20. That’s an extension of the ministry of our home. “She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” She is not a lazy woman, she is not sitting around, she is not idle.

“Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying; ‘Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.’” Note where the real credit comes to her, from her children and her husband. The children testify for their mother. They rise up and bless her. You know I can speak of the faithfulness of my mother, of her impact and influence on my life. The most influential people in my life. The two people who have made the greatest difference in my ministry and service for Jesus Christ have been women. My mother and my wife. It continues down. To a large extent the impact of my life, the impact of my teaching the word of God, goes back to human resources, were going to talk humanly speaking, the two people that have been the most influential and continue to be are first my mother in those early formative years and then my wife in her continuing ministry and support of my life. So we rise up and call them blessed as the children testify to her faithfulness. Her self-giving, her willingness to do those tasks that had to be done to make the home the home. To be there when the kids need them. Not cause it’s always fun to be there and take care of a snot nosed kid. No wonder getting all dressed up and going out in the working world looks like fun. But recognizing the value and importance of that ministry. Being willing to invest your life in others. You always say, “I want to be like Christ, I want to be a servant.” A woman is called to invest her life in her children and her husband. “I want to be a servant of Christ, but I don’t know about my kids and my husband.” That’s what they’re called to be. There is no higher calling. You say, “I want the call of God in my life.” Then what are we following the world for? “Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her.” You say, “There’s a lot of good women, a lot of good wives, but none quite like my wife.” And that’s the kind of attitude I need to have for my wife. She is the perfect wife for me. I didn’t say she’s perfect, she’s perfect for me. Exactly the wife that God new I needed. And I can testify to that fact, this man does, we as men ought to. We ought to be encouraging our wives. The world beats away on them and tells them all they are is housewives and look at this woman over here. She is going someplace, she is vice president of the company, this, that, and the other thing. That’s not as important as being a wife. Anybody can go be vice president of the company. A man can go be vice president of a company, but who can be the mother and wife in the home? Only the mother and the wife. This is the one unique role and realm that only the wife and mother can fill. Anybody can go out and make lots of money. Lots of men do it as well as women, but only a wife and mother can rule the home and make it the place that God intends it to be. So why do we abandon that unique special place? Go out and do what somebody else can do. Somebody else can do that job down there, nobody else can raise my children. Somebody else can do that task. Nobody else can be my support as a husband.

Reminder here, verse 30: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” A reminder. Don’t get too caught up in externals, that’s where all the focus of the world is, is it not? What do they look like? You know physical appearance. I think we’re all with physical attractiveness. The book of Song of Solomon is taken up with physical beauty and attractiveness, although that’s relative. Solomon was enthralled with the beauty of the Shulammite even though she didn’t meet the current standards of beauty with her blackened skin from the sun. But she was beautiful in his sight. That’s all that matters. My wife to be the most beautiful woman to me, that’s all that the focal point is. But I need to be careful about looking at the externals, it’s a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Why? Beauty, the physical attractiveness, that will pass no matter how you fight it. You get older and the wrinkles come, the chin sags, along with some other parts, and you just think, “oh boy, a woman who fears the Lord, that quality grows in its beauty.” An excellent wife, who can find?

Look back in Proverbs chapter 12. Again, you see the power of a godly wife. Proverbs chapter 12 verse 4: “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.” See the impact of a wife? An excellent wife, that’s a crown for her husband. One who shames him is like rottenness in his bones. Word of encouragement to wives, to mothers. You’ve got the most important task that you could have when you’re in your home. When you’re providing for your family. When your children grow up, you’ll still have your number one task, your husband, your home. Reaching out to the needy and the poor, the extension of our home. We’ve got to make our goal to see the standard of excellence that God sets down. And be sorry that the world can’t know the joy and satisfaction of being what God created us to be and what he enables us to be by the power that is indwelt in the Spirit.

Let’s pray together. Thank You Father for Your love for us. Thank You Lord for the differences that You have created in us as men and as women. For the different roles and responsibilities that You’ve assigned to us. Lord, our desire is to be what You created us to be. Lord, to be what You’ve called us to be as new creatures in Christ. Thank You for godly women, thank You for godly mothers and godly wives. Lord, we’re reminded of how they give of themselves, sacrificially, for their husbands, for children, for the home. Lord, what a tragedy that the world does not appreciate and value that most important of responsibilities and roles. May it be that we as the church of Jesus Christ elevate and exalt and honor the women and their role and realm with the glory that You’ve given to them. May they be aware of our praise, we honor them and their faithfulness to You. We pray in Christ Jesus, amen.