Reflections on Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.


I love this passage. It is a beautiful picture of all that a woman can be... I don't think we should hold it up as a standard of what we should be doing all at once, but I do think it is a picture of what our lives should be.

Some people say it's just a fable, some think it's a list of things that would be nice to do, some think we should try to do some of what's included.

I think, rather, that we should take it quite literally! If you read the entire chapter, you will find that this is "The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle his mother taught him" It's a chapter of advice from mother to son on what he should do with his life (be sober, take care of the poor, be a just ruler) and what he should look for in a wife!

She is good to her husband, she is productive, she is a smart shopper and doesn't waste their money, she contributes financially to their household, she is wise, she is joyful, and she is attentive to her home and family. And as a result she is respected, her husband is respected, and her family adores her.

She really does have it all, doesn't she? LOL

The but that's on my mind today is "watching over the affairs of her household" or "looking well to the ways of her household". This tells me she is paying attention. She knows what's going on. She knows where her kids are, what they're doing, who they're with. She knows what she's making for dinner and what needs to go on the shopping list. She knows where her laundry is. She knows that things are taken care of, because she has taken care of them. She knows the balance of her checking account and where the money goes.

We (I) could learn a lot from this sage momma's advice to her boy.