| “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” |
| —Proverbs 31:30 |
More and more young people are resisting the bond of a committed marriage and planning to simply live together. They claim that they get to enjoy all of the benefits of a union, without all the hassles that a formal marriage can create. They see no value in making their relationship any more permanent than whatever bond develops in the moment between two people with common interests.
The purpose of this blog post is not to defend marriage, nor to criticize those who have chosen the pathway I’ve described above. I must hasten to add that I don’t agree with that decision for a couple to simply live together. It’s difficult to find out statistically how such relationships work out over the long term. I suspect that some eventually marry. Others change partners every few years. A very rare few seem to operate with significant commitment without the blessing of God or the civil authority. No, the purpose of this blog post is to examine the value that Scripture places on a wife. We find that information in Proverbs 31, categorized as the sayings of King Lemuel. Here’s Proverbs 31:10-31:
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 night; she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
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.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
I suspect that some women today might strongly resist this image of womanhood. I can hear some woman respond:
“It seems far too patriarchal. It even seems as if the woman exists only to serve a man. Where is her opportunities for free expression? Where is the value that she brings to the larger picture of life? Where is her opportunity to achieve self-actualization?”
It takes a deeper inspection and careful analysis of this text from Scripture, in order to discern the absolute nature of the truth contained within these words. This text does not attempt to fit into the direction our modern culture has taken. Rather, it stands decidedly and purposefully in contrast to the direction any culture may have taken. No matter how someone may feel about what this passage discloses, I find the description both interesting and thought provoking.
So, I guess in writing this particular blog post, I’m celebrating every married woman I have ever known. I celebrate the married women whom God has used in my life to encourage me in my walk with our Savior. And, I celebrate the married women in my life whose patterns of life have served as an example of what not to do, as well. I’m also wondering if our families would have a lot more stability if they consisted of a husband and a wife working in partnership, and in which the woman exhibited the underlying qualities that inform the behaviors described in this passage of Scripture. Perhaps it’s something to think about.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, May 14, 2015
