Today’s Passage: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.’ 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 31:28-31
Today’s study of the virtuous woman is our final lesson in the study. It is an appropriate ending to the study because it shows us the blessings that come from serving God throughout our lives and brings a happy and hopeful sense of closure to this woman who has been our example for many lessons.
This hardworking woman’s family praises her for her virtuous qualities. What a beautiful thought to be so highly honored! She has certainly worked diligently for her family and they do well to hold her in such high esteem as a wife and mother.
The Lord commands that children are to honor and obey their parents as stated in Ephesians 6:1-3. Certainly the virtuous woman has taught her children well. Yet even if our spouse and children do not honor us, we can be assured that the Lord will bless us for our service. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” Matthew 16:27. There is no worldly blessing that could ever come close to the wonderful reward that God has planned for those who are faithful to Him.
God’s special woman does not seek praise for herself but it is a natural byproduct of her years of service for her family. There is nothing wrong with being honored for something we have done IF the intention was not to receive praise for our actions by others. The new covenant focuses on the intent of the heart and this passage indicates that the ones praising her are her husband, children and those who see her works. Jesus taught, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We must be careful that we do not announce our good works to others but that we are so busy doing good things that others are bound to notice. When we are honored for our good works, Jesus taught us to give the honor to God. Even Christ, the Messiah and part of the Godhead, told someone who called Him Good Teacher, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” Matthew 19:17. Certainly, if any human being deserved to be honored it was Jesus Christ because He lived His life in service and ultimately gave His life for us; yet even He gave the glory to God. Jesus modeled our ideal motivation and response which are to give Jehovah God the glory for anything we have done.
We should not strive for attention and honor for ourselves because it is God who gives us life and the blessings we need to do good works. Paul wrote that our Savior Jesus Christ “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works”. In essence, we were created to work in the service of the Lord. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10.
I can imagine this beautiful woman saying, “Thank you for your compliments, but God has given me a beloved family like you and I am the one who is blessed.” She might also consider what she has done throughout her marriage to be her duty to God as she remembers Jesus’ words after He washed the disciples’ feet, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” John 13:14-17. Why would she not serve her family when her Master did the same for His friends?
One of my favorite verses is part of our passage today: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” With nearly every advertisement pressuring women to desire beauty or exude sexuality to get noticed by men, we can rest peacefully and joyfully in the truth that these things are not what the Lord desires of His daughters. He commands us to show the fruit of the Spirit; He desires that we seek not to find beauty in our outward apparel or hairstyle or jewelry but “rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” I Peter 3:4.
God bless you this week and may you find the peace that comes from being in Christ and serving the Lord. May we all be virtuous women throughout the rest of our lives.
