"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"
Proverbs 31:29
Do you know the Proverbs 31 woman?
Do you know someone like her?
Do you wish you were her?
Or do you try to be her, fearing in your heart that you never will be?
Does she...
intimidate you?
irritate you?
or infuriate you?
Why?
Does this verse intimidate you?
"She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns." Proverbs 31:19
I'm not a quilter. Are you? And we all know linen wrinkles. Who has the time to iron?
Or maybe this irritating passage really gets your goat:
"She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night." Proverbs 31:17-18
Okay, not only is she working hard, but she makes a profit doing it, and works late into the night. So when does this woman relax? Hang out with her family? Read a book or watch Netflix?
And then there's the infuriating clincher:
"She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls." Proverbs 31:15
She works late at night, and then gets up BEFORE DAWN to make breakfast? And if she has servant girls, why aren't THEY making breakfast?
Furthermore, what's her husband doing all this time?
Oh, that's right. He's sitting at the city gate with his buddies. [the other civic leaders] (Proverbs 31:23)
Before becoming haters, can we at least admit it?
This intimidating, irritating, infuriating woman is admittedly impressive.
So is this what God expects of US?
Wow. What about rest?
What about talents and skillsets and genetics, for St. Peter's sake?
Some see Proverbs 31 as a laundry list of attributes that makes us feel guilty, inferior and unimportant.
Less than. Not good enough. Unworthy.
But our God doesn't diminish His daughters that way.
God ENCOURAGES us in all that we do!
Our loving Father PRAISES us!
Each woman of God is His Daughter -- His Princess!
Our Loving Father showers each of us with blessings, talents and abilities uniquely ours.
So know this.
Proverbs 31 has a little bit of everything to suit a little bit of each of us.
God doesn't expect any one of us to be or do all of these things in one day, week or month.
He created each one of us with unique gifts.
The point is this...
Women of God work hard using our abilities.
Women of God are productive and resourceful.
Women of God keep our bodies busy rather than being busybodies.
Women of God take care of our families.
Working late and getting up before dawn don't necessarily both happen within twenty-four hours.
God included the night owls AND the morning people in his analogy.
He included many different attributes, so each one of us might find something to relate to.
Yet, in all likelihood, over a lifetime most women of God have done or been ALL of these things at some point... or the modern equivalent.
"She is like a merchant ship, bringing her food from afar" may equate to a long trip to Costco in the mini-van.
"She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard" might represent buying vegetables and planting a garden. Or going on a job interview, taking the job, and providing food for our family.
"She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants" can compare to a modern-day seamstress or crafter, sales clerk, or business woman.
So let's CELEBRATE the Proverbs 31 woman.
God sees a little bit of that woman in each of his daughters.
He loves us. Each and every one.
Who is the Proverbs 31 woman?
Oh, daughter of our loving Father -- she is YOU.
"Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." Proverbs 31:31
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