Charm Is Deceptive, And Beauty Is Fleeting; But A Woman Who Fears The Lord Is To Be Praised
The Virtuous Wife
PROVERBS 31:30-31
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:30-31 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.31.30-31.NKJV
The book of Proverbs begins with the command to fear the Lord (1:7), and ends with the picture of a woman who fulfils this command.
Her qualities are mentioned throughout the book: hard working, fearing of God, respect for her husband, foresight, encouragement, care for others, wisdom in handling finances, which coupled to the fear of God, lead to success, honour, and worth.
Proverbs is practical for us because it shows us how to make wise decisions, and live according to God ideal.
Proverbs has a lot to say about women.
Some people have the miss-conception that the ideal woman in the bible is retiring, servile, and entirely domestic.
This is not so! Read the whole chapter of PROVERBS 31.
The woman described in these verses, is an excellent wife and mother. She is also a manager, a manufacturer, an importer, a realtor, a farmer, a seamstress, an upholsterer, and a merchant.
Her strength and dignity do not come from her amazing achievements, they are without doubt, a result of her reverence for God.
In our society, where physical appearance counts for so much, it may surprise you, that her appearance is never mentioned, her attractiveness comes entirely from her character.
The woman in this chapter has outstanding abilities, and her family's social position is high.
Don't look at her as a model to imitate in every detail, your days are not long enough to do what she does. Instead, see her as inspiration to be all that you can be.
We can't simply be just like her, she may not be one woman at all, she is virtuous and may be a composite portrait of ideal womanhood.
But we can learn from her industry, integrity, and resourcefulness.
Whilst this woman is an example to follow, she represents the church and is a picture and a representation of the bride of Christ, showing reverence to the groom Jesus Christ, and remaining totally obedient to His plans and purposes.
Her beauty and outstanding personality and abilities are what Christ church is supposed to be, not in her own strength , but empowered by the Holy Spirit (REVELATION 19:7).
But charm is deceitful and beauty is passing; we cannot judge a book by its cover.
We believers are to meet many people, some have been sent to destroy us and our ministry, and others to receive the Good News of Christ Jesus.
But we must not allow the opportunities pass.
We all need discernment that can only come from the Holy Spirit.
Many will seem like the virtuous woman in psalm 31 and some quite the opposite, but we cannot judge by what we see or hear.
We believers are called to love all people, shining for Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to influence them through us, and show them there’s a better way to live, for He wants no one to perish, but for all to turn to God in repentance (2 PETER 3:9).
Jesus said, ““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
