An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. [Pro 31:10 ESV]
An excellent wife is more precious than jewels. As I am writing to women in every stage of life–single, married, divorced, widowed– let’s look at this as “an excellent woman is more precious than jewels.” If you have never been married or you are no longer married does that mean these passages can have no use for you? If it is God’s Word then it has use for us all, in every stage of life.
Women. We are an interesting creation. There are many proverbs about our abilities, both good and bad. We can be a crown on the head, more precious than jewels, or rottenness in the bones and a constant dripping. What great choices?!?!
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. [Pro 12:4 ESV]
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. [Pro 18:22 ESV]
A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; [Pro 27:15 ESV]
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. [Pro 21:9 ESV]
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. [Pro 25:24 ESV]
Did you just have a brief moment of déjà vu? That’s right the last two proverbs are the exact same yet written twice. Be careful not to ignore this. Be extra careful not to become this woman.
We have a choice, as we always do as believers. Our choice is to live for Him and let Him live through us, or to choose to live for ourselves. When we allow Him to guide us, we are crowns, more precious than jewels, and we will be praised. “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” [Pro 31:28 ESV] Yet when we choose to accomplish tasks through our own strength and our own will, it is very easy to become a constant dripping on a rainy day. The jokes of women being nags did not come about from falsehood, but from truth. Oh, I pray your roommate, spouse, parent, or child wouldn’t rather live on the corner of the roof than with you. I get that some of us have reason to be a little grumpy. Some are going through menopause, pregnancy, or have been stuck in the house all day with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old for 5 months straight. (Oh, that’s just me. Sorry) But let’s be careful not to let the hormones running through us or the situation control our thoughts and actions to those around us.
The Proverbs 31 woman is simply a woman following after the heart of God. The Spirit teaches her through the reading and study of the Word and then guides her. He produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control in her. (I don’t know about you, but those fruits seem awfully similar to the traits seen in the woman in Proverbs 31). And then when she might one day become a widow, she is honored.
Honor widows who are truly widows. ... 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. [1Ti 5:3, 10 ESV]
Even if you are not married, we are all the bride of Christ. So, I would ask, are you a crown on His head or rottenness in His bones? My prayer is that as we grow in Him we will all become excellent women, much more precious than jewels!
Reflection Questions:
- Have you ever found yourself being a constant dripping?
- Would your husband, child, roommate, or parent rather sit in a room with you or be on the other side of the house? (hormonal teenagers don’t necessarily count) 😊
Write the Proverb down that God most used for you in this list, and tape it on your mirror as a reminder and help.
Reflection Song:
