There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all! Proverbs 31:29 (NLT)
Most of Proverbs 31 is well known for describing the ideal woman. So, for the final day of our 31 Days of Proverbs and Prayer, I recruited my ideal woman, my wife Theresa, to share her thoughts on this powerful proverb…
The first time I read Proverbs 31, I was totally overwhelmed. Beginning in verse 10 through verse 31, this proverb describes what initially appeared to me as a superwoman. Each verse describes all that this ideal woman does for her family, her work and her community. She has countless talents, she’s smart, industrious, an excellent wife and mother, a manager, a manufacturer, merchant, and seems to take very little time for herself. And, she seems to do it all with very little sleep! So you can understand why I might have felt somewhat discouraged.
Fortunately, a couple of years ago, a few friends and I decided to do a bible study on Proverbs 31. They had many of the same initial impressions as I had. So, we decided to really dive into this proverb to better understand what God was intending with this instruction. We realized that Proverbs 31 was a summary of an entire woman’s life, not something she achieved in one day or even one year. As we studied each verse, we began to see that the woman described and the many demands on her life were not much different then life’s demands for women today. The tasks may be different now, but women today still wear many hats and have many responsibilities.
What we began to understand was that it wasn’t necessarily the specific tasks she completed but the attitudes and qualities that she exemplified while doing them, in other words her “heart.” The Proverbs 31 woman was reverent, faithful, good, diligent, disciplined, energetic, thrifty, industrious, kind, generous, wise, helpful and more. She truly exemplifies a woman after God’s own heart. These qualities are definitely worth striving for whether we are at home, at work, with family, friends, or even with strangers.
There are many women in this world who may be more talented, more beautiful, more successful, more famous, but none of that ranks in importance to God than pursuing the godly qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman.
If you or someone you know is interested in studying this proverb in depth, Elizabeth George has written a couple of wonderful Bible studies. Click on the link below:
http://www.elizabethgeorge.com/george/books.asp?catid=2
Father God, many women today feel overwhelmed fulfilling all of the different responsibilities they have. Please use this teaching and this proverb to encourage them. Amen
Theresa,
Feeling overwhelmed captures so many of us as we try to keep all of the plates spinning. What reassurance to think that it doesn’t have to be done in a day or even in a year!
The following part from your thoughts on Proverbs 31 is a wonderful reminder of the spirit in which we should be “spinning” all of those plates. Thank you.
“What we began to understand was that it wasn’t necessarily the specific tasks she completed but the attitudes and qualities that she exemplified while doing them, in other words her “heart.”
The response of those of us fortunate enough to be married to a Proverbs 31 woman is found in v. 28 & 29. When we get home tonight — or better yet pick up the phone right now — praise her! “Sweetheart, many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
Well now Michael, I think that is THE best comment I’ve heard the entire month of Proverbs. You go guy and all you other guys!