Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value. Her husband trusts her judgment; he does not lack income. She brings him profit, not loss, all the days of her life. She seeks out wool and flax and weaves with skillful hands. Like a merchant fleet, she secures her provisions from afar. She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household, a portion to her maidservants. She picks out a field and acquires it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength; she exerts her arms with vigor. She enjoys the profit from her dealings; her lamp is never extinguished at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle. She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. She is not concerned for her household when it snows—all her charges are doubly clothed. She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing. Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land. She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her: “Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all.” Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Acclaim her for the work of her hands,and let her deeds praise her at the city gates. - Proverbs 31: 10-31
This woman is a force to be reckoned with. She is a wife, mother, and business owner. She is well respected in her community and brings respect to her husband and family. She is resourceful. To top it all off, she is also very modern.
People often view the Bible as antiquated. I've heard many people ask "why do you follow a Bronze Age book of morality?". When I read it, I find so much within: poetry, history, hyperbole, parables, allegory. Sometimes you find gems of modern life too within the pages, modern things like this description of a good woman. She is someone I strive to be. She isn't the doormat that many seem to think Biblical women are (though when people do say that I often wonder what Bible they are reading where they see women acting like doormats...Scripture is filled with strong female role models). In Proverbs we have a married, working mother who is good in agriculture, math, economics, time management, communication skills, and with a work ethic that puts many to shame. She is resourceful and puts things away for a "rainy day".
I look at my life and when I compare myself to her, I see where I'm lacking, where I have to work harder, and where I have to be more disciplined. What I wouldn't give to take this woman to lunch and pick her brain on how she does it all. She sees love as the choice that it is when she takes care of her family this way. When I marry, I would want my husband to view me as a Proverbs 31 woman, and to be as proud of me as her husband is of her.
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