Who can find such a woman?

 Read Proverbs 31

The Proverbs have presented us with 3 metaphorical women.  There is, of course, Lady Wisdom.  She is to be desired the most. 

We also have the adulterous woman and the woman known as Folly.  The counsel that accompanies these 2 is to steer clear.  This pair is responsible for many of the mines in the minefield.

Lady Wisdom leads to good life and prosperity.  The other two lead to your demise and destruction.  Solomon used the metaphors of these women to help define God’s way and the everything else.

There is God’s way and there is everything else, and let’s not forget that God’s way is love.

Let’s not forget that he who lives in God’s way is blessed.  God has revealed his way to us for our own good.  Nothing here should sound new to you.  This is what you have been hearing time and again. You know these things.

God’s way and everything else.

God’s way is given for our own good.

God’s way is love.

God’s way blesses us.

God’s way is the only way available for the man who wants to please God and enjoy him very much.

Of the 3 women that we have met so far, 2 are warnings about the everything else.  It’s time to meet another woman as we seek to live God’s way.

This woman is not metaphorical.  She is an aspiration.  She is the epitome of a godly woman. Who is she? She is described as:

A wife of noble character.

A virtuous woman.

An excellent wife.

Why is this woman an aspiration?  Consider how she is introduced.  Who can find such a woman—a woman who is noble, virtuous, and excellent?

This is the woman who sets the bar high for all women.  Some women are not interested in such aspirations for these lofty goals lie only in God’s way.

What exactly are we talking about in such a woman?

Her value is more than fine jewelry. Her husband has full confidence in her. This woman brings her husband good and never harm.

She has as much business sense and acumen as any merchant.  She is industrious, up early and taking care of business on the home front before venturing into the world of commerce.

She does a cost-benefit analysis on a piece of property and buys it if it could be profitable.  Then she makes it profitable. She funds the whole endeavor herself.

She invests money to make money. She is not only an adept businessperson; she knows how to sew and weave. She hones her domestic skill set.

OBTW—she is not stingy.  She is generous and helps the poor.

She is not afraid of bad weather.  She has made clothing for her family, warm bedding, and provisioned the household.

Now we get a little figurative language. What does this most desirable woman wear?  Yes, she wears fine linen and purple—a color that often denotes royalty, but there is more to her wardrobe.  She is clothed with strength and dignity.

Now consider these additional qualities.

She speaks with wisdom.  Only instruction faithful to the Lord and her husband will depart from her lips. Her household is in order.

Here is one of my favorites.  She is on a strict diet. What? She does not eat the bread of idleness.

Either she or her parents made a good choice once upon a time for her husband not only appreciates her and acknowledges her value, he is respected within the community.  He takes his seat among the elders.

She is part of a family that is blessed.  The husband knows it.  The children know it.  She knows it but it doesn’t go to her head.  She cherishes these things in her heart.

But what about her physical attributes?  C’mon this is the twenty-first century.  How does she look in a bikini or a cocktail dress?  Does she need to use filters on her Facebook posts? What does this girl look like?

Remember the target audience for wisdom is not the world that lives in the everything else.  Wisdom speaks to those who seek her and not the other 2 gals who live in the everything else. 

Wisdom speaks to those seeking a woman attired in strength and dignity. What’s that got to do with how this proverbs 31 woman looks?

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

What is the quality that brings success to this woman?  She fears the Lord.  The fear of the Lord leads to knowledge, wisdom, instruction, and discipline. 

Do you remember Secret deodorant?  It’s strong enough for a man but made for a woman.

This Proverbs 31 woman can compete in a man’s world where she sees fit and make a warm and loving home for her family.

She is loved and blessed in her home.  Not only does her family appreciate and acknowledge her, but she is respected in the community.

Wow!  From the man’s perspective, the term is what a catch! How does a man come by such a woman?

He must be the man who lives in God’s way, fears the Lord, seeks God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and is known by his love.

From the woman’s perspective, these things are essential to becoming such a woman.

Fear the Lord.  This is the beginning of knowledge, wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

Be industrious.  Do you remember all of the warnings given in the Proverbs about laziness or slothfulness or just general apathy towards putting your abilities to work?

Those were not just there for the guys.

Here is one not listed but essential, especially to the modern woman.  Be patient.  Patience is required because you might just have to wait a while for a godly man to cross your path.

The virtuous wife had a virtuous husband. In the days when these pieces of counsel were authored that process probably involved the parents of both husband and bride reaching agreement.  Today is different.  While we hope that the extended family is involved in helping children select lifelong partners; too often it’s a decision made by young people with limited life experience and varying walks of faith.

Today the marriage process is sometimes purely emotional.

The virtuous woman must be patient.  She must be willing to wait as long as it takes for a Christian man to come along.

Here is another not specifically listed but obvious from the attributes of this woman.  You must put what God gave you to work.  God has blessed you with gifts and talents that he wants us to use to produce good fruit for the kingdom of God and the body of Christ.

Combined this with being industrious, and you will grow into your clothing—strength and dignity.

While the Proverbs seem to have been written mostly to men, and many were, we can see that women also benefit from living in God’s way. The Proverbs 31 woman sets the bar high for ladies who desire to bring glory to God.

For the men, the Proverbs 31 woman should be so much more desirable than the playmate of the month, especially for those living in God’s way.

There is God’s way and there is everything else. God’s way is love.  Living in God’s way blessed both men and women and the families that come out of godly people being united in marriage.

This brings us to the end of the Proverbs.  We will do a review next week and everyone is asked to read Ephesians 5:15-16 and pick out a dozen quips of wisdom that stuck with you during this study.

Amen.