The Wife of Noble Character 2-15-09
I was talking with my wife yesterday (one of the secrets to a good marriage – communication), commenting on how amazed I am by her ability to engage children for an extended period of time. Now I enjoy children, and I certainly think it a rewarding way to spend my time by doing things with my kids; but to spend hours with another person’s small children is exhausting. Not torture, or boring, or any such negative concept; but I just plain cannot imagine where I would get the energy to do what she can do.
This was one small comment in the context of a larger conversation dealing with our marriage (and others we have seen around us) that was brought on by the Valentine’s Day holiday. I do truly respect and adore my wife for all of the things that she does and who she is. I assume (and truly hope) that the husbands who read this will take to heart how special their wives are. In a world where a twenty-two-year-old woman can auction her virginity online legally, it is important to look to God’s word for the standard of what a woman should be.
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:10-31 NIV)
You can see the character of a Godly woman: valuable, trustworthy, a beneficial partner, productive, honest, shrewdly wise, compassionately charitable, supportive of her husband, knowledgeable and a teacher at heart, and (certainly the center of her character) God-fearing. Now, this is not here so that the husbands can test their wives and see if they measure up! This passage has three reasons for being: the two lesser reasons are for the women to have a Godly example to pattern their own lives by and the men to have a vision of what they should be looking for; the greater reason is for the church to have a pattern to follow!
The church is the bride of Christ, so it stands to reason that the church needs to be about developing that noble character of a Godly wife. After all, the church should be seen as virginally pure, trustworthy of the calling of Christ, compassionate and gentle with those who need salvation, strong and unyielding to the temptations of the world; the church should be about faithful instruction in the word of God.
Fellow Christian men, I hope that you can join me in honoring our wives for their partnership, devotion, and love. Fellow Christians, I hope that we can all join together and be the church that Jesus deserves. And do not doubt that we will be that church, because Jesus has redeemed us and is working to make us that church! Praise be to God!