Today’s Passage: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:26-27
Our virtuous woman continues to teach us how to live as Christian women. Surely this woman walks with God and is a blessing to all of those who know her. I feel inadequate when I read these passages because I know that I do not excel in many of the virtuous woman’s qualities and certainly none of them to the extent that she does; however, I must also remember that if I were perfect, I would not need Christ. The passages we have studied in Proverbs 31 describe the ideal wife. As human beings, we always have room to grow because we will never attain perfection while on earth. Praise be to God that we have a Savior who washes away our sins continually as we seek His will, obey His commandments and walk in the light.
Wisdom is the first virtue mentioned in today’s verses. Wisdom is not merely the knowledge of God’s Word; it is the proper application of it in our lives. Knowledge is gained through study of the Bible; wisdom is gained by prayer and meditation of the knowledge that has been attained so that our thoughts and actions conform to God’s Word. Solomon asked for wisdom as opposed to knowledge; he had been taught God’s Word by his father David. God granted Solomon wisdom, understanding and great insight (I Kings 4:29); God will also grant us wisdom if we seek His will by studying the Holy Scriptures. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:4. Note in the next verse that this prayer for wisdom must be done with complete faith that God will give what He has promised.
If we study as we ought, meditate on what we have read and pray for guidance from the Lord, knowledge will blossom into understanding which, in its maturity, will develop into wisdom. A person who can quote the entire Bible word for word has knowledge; a person who lives by the Word he has learned is wise. We can have great knowledge and still be lost if that knowledge does not lead to action. The Pharisees knew the Scriptures but they did not make the necessary step to believe in the Christ who was fulfilling the very Scriptures they had studied. (John 5:39-40). Jesus condemned them for their unwillingness to come to Him.
Paul was clear in his writings to Timothy that the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation through faith (II Timothy 3:15), yet this knowledge is not enough if it does not lead to good works (James 2:14-17). To please God, we must obey that which we read in His Word. The Word of God is living (Hebrews 4:12); if we are truly of Christ we will show it in our thoughts, actions and attitudes.
Wisdom is a virtue that has been developed through this woman’s dependence on the Lord. She may appear to be self-supporting, but she knows where her strength originates. True wisdom does not exist apart from the Lord. Even the sagest advisers have shown their weaknesses because their “wisdom” was merely the foolishness of man. Jephthah vowed to sacrifice to the Lord the first thing to come out of his door. How sad he was to see his daughter run toward him! (Judges 11). David thought it wise to move the Ark of the Covenant and had it loaded on a cart. When the oxen leading the cart stumbled, Uzzah was struck dead for trying to stabilize it (II Samuel 6). Things that seem to be the right thing to do can have great consequences. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, stated twice that “there is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is death” (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25). We simply cannot make wise choices apart from God’s Word. The truth does not lie in any other source than our Lord. (John 1:17, John 14:6, John 17:7).
Kindness is another virtue of this beautiful woman of the Lord. She has obviously learned God’s Word and her speech reflects the wisdom that has grown from this knowledge. To speak with wisdom is to speak kindly. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” Colossians 4:6. Though it is more difficult for some of us than others, we must try our best to say things in a way that will not offend others. It is far easier to prevent something from being said than to repair the damage afterward. I say this from experience and pray that I always strive to let my speech be “seasoned with salt” in the future. Sometimes people say they are only being honest when they say something harmful. Honesty is not an excuse for being hurtful. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” Ephesians 4:29. If the conversation is not beneficial to both the person to whom we are speaking and the person being discussed, it simply should not be said.
True Christians reflect Christ’s kindness and compassion in their behavior. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” Colossians 3:12-13. There truly is no such thing as a hateful Christian. Either we love one another or we are not in Christ because He is love (I John 4:7-21) The commandments to love both God and our fellow man are the greatest commandments given per Jesus Himself (Matthew 22:36-40).
And finally, the virtuous woman is attentive to her household and is productive. This concept has appeared throughout the description of this woman of the Lord. It was very important then and it is just as vital to us as Christians today. Especially in this world where there are many things to draw our attention away from what we should be doing, we must be diligent to keep focused and stay on track.
There are many passages that teach us to be productive. We have discussed some of them in previous lessons (i.e., hardworking, diligent, committed). Below are various passages regarding being busy in the Lord:
A warning against laziness: “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” Proverbs 13:4
Be aware of the goings-on of our households and those things for which we are responsible: “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds” Proverbs 27:23
Be hard workers: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” Ecclesiastes 9:10
A commandment to support ourselves and our household: “Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” 2 Thessalonians 3:12
We work for the Lord and not for man: “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” Ephesians 6:5-8
Our work in the Lord will be rewarded: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58) and "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
Life has been quite busy in our household due to health concerns and various commitments. I hope to be back on track so that the lessons will be sent timelier. I pray that you have enjoyed this passage as much as I have and that it will be on our minds tomorrow. There are only four verses left in our Virtuous Woman study. God bless you all and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
