Proverbs 31 starts with the question, “What are you doing?”
The question posed by a father to his son beckons the son to consider kingly behavior.
For those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ, sons and daughters of God, we have an opportunity to pose this question to ourselves daily.
The rest of the chapter describes The Woman Who Fears the Lord.
We’ve come to know this example as The Proverbs 31 woman. A well-respected, Christian lady may be described as a Proverbs 31. This moniker can be a blessing. As many women might find, this name can also be a curse.
Certainly there are many women, like men, that when faced with the standard of Jesus’ thoughts, words and actions, know how we fall short of His standards daily.
For any woman described as a Proverbs 31 woman, keeping that title may prove difficult because the Proverbs 31 woman sounds just about perfect. For those who would like that title, attaining that seemingly perfect character and accompanying actions must prove difficult too.
We see in the text the Proverbs 31 woman is:
- Not easily found
- Trustworthy in finances
- Not contentious
- Good at handiwork
- Thrifty
- Has self-respect
- Provides security via clothing for her family
- Industrious
- Full of strength
- Full of dignity
- Deserving of her husband and children’s praise
- Speaks with wisdom
Men, we should not take this list and put it in the face of our wives for comparison. Ever.
Women, you should not take this list and put it in your face as a comparison to determine whether or not you valued by God. Ever.
However, we should all draw closer to God, His invite to commune with Him via prayer, His word, His community and His creation.
Let our new standard consist of desiring God above anything else.
As believers, by the help of the Holy Spirit, the more we draw near to God the more we will look like Jesus. The Proverbs 31 woman is born out of this nearness to Christ.
What will it take to root out the busyness, the noise and the separation from locking your will with God’s will for you to know Him and be known by Him today?
Maybe we should start with a proverbial question.
“What are you doing?”
21 Days of Proverbs
Proverbs 1
Proverbs 2
Proverbs 3
Proverbs 4
Proverbs 5-7
Proverbs 8
Proverbs 9
Proverbs 10
Proverbs 11
Proverbs 12-15
Proverbs 16
Proverbs 17-19
Proverbs 19-23
Proverbs 24
Proverbs 25
Proverbs 26
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 28
Proverbs 29
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 31
