Mission Faithwalk

                 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. (Proverbs 31:23) Oh, I can hear the feminists groaning already.  Part of what makes her a Proverbs 31 woman is the social status of her husband? I admit, as a single, I feel a little uncomfortable with this. But what’s really being said here? This verse is in the middle of the verses shared yesterday. It’s in between the clothing in scarlet and purple and in strength and dignity. In a sense, then, one might say her husband is, by his connection with her, clothed in scarlet, purple, strength, and dignity. And she is, by her connection with him, respected in the city gate and among the elders/rulers of the land. Those who go to the city gate (effectively the courthouse of the day) didn’t have to worry about this husband’s wife or children being involved in the incidents over which the elders judged, or that he wo...

            She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.   She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple…She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. (Proverbs 31:20-22, 24-25) Have you ever heard the saying that the cobbler’s children have no shoes? I’ve heard a story of an obstetrician who didn’t realize that his wife was pregnant. Sometimes, those who are closest to us aren’t given the attention that we give to those who are customers, neighbors, or otherwise “important.” The Proverbs 31 woman doesn’t do this. Yes, she helps the poor and needy. Yes, she makes and sells linen garments and sashes for merchants. But she also clothes her household in scarlet, and herself in fine linen and purple. S...

                 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night . She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. (Proverbs 13:15-19) Once again, it might be easy to see this woman as a workaholic, and she certainly does get things done, but consider what kinds of things she gets done. She takes care of her family’s needs first thing. She gets things set for her staff. She considers possible investments of time, money, and energy and buys land, then plants a crop-producing garden. She sees that what she’s doing is having a desired outcome and doesn’t get bored and go to bed early, or vegetate in front of the TV or co...

                  She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. (Proverbs 31:13-14) As I noted yesterday, this passage is advice from the mother of the present or future king about what sort of wife to find. At the risk of dating myself, there’s a clip from Buck Rogers in the Twenty-Fifth Century that I wish I could find. In response to Buck’s command to her, Princess Ardala announces, “Princesses don’t start engines.” This is the picture of one end of the spectrum of choices. At the other end of the spectrum, there’s the picture more often seen as the Proverbs 31 woman, and an equally ancient advertisement that encapsulates it: the  Enjoli Ad .  After all, the person being taught about this paragon of womanhood is – or will be – king. Is the king’s wife really expected to get excited about spinning, weaving, sewing, and grocery shopping? Is she really su...

                 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.   She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:11-12) When I’ve written about this passage before, I noted that Lemuel’s mother was giving him advice about the most important human relationship in her son’s life. If it had been written to a daughter, the pronouns would have changed.  So, granting that I am single, my husband can not have full confidence in me, but that’s immaterial. If I were married, would my husband have confidence in me? Am I the sort of person that others can have confidence in? Do I do those around me good, not harm? If we do not practice being someone in whom others can place confidence, adding value, and bringing good and not harm in the moment by moment and person by person, it’s not likely that we will be someone in whom anyone can place confidence. We simply can’t be “perfection” for ...

  A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (Proverbs 31:10) One idea that came to mind about 2026 goes in and out of fashion among Christian women: being a Proverbs 31 woman. Like other resolutions and my recurring concern about being prepared for emergencies, we get all excited, then start exploring what we have to buy and what we have to do. When things don’t all fall into place in thirty seconds, we sigh. It was a pleasant dream, but we’re stuck with reality. One source said that Biblically, a noble character requires: integrity, righteousness, wisdom, humility, compassion, and kindness. ( Topical Bible: Noble Character ). Another, more general list included honesty, loyalty, humility, compassion, forgiveness, authenticity, courage, politeness, kindness, gentleness, optimism, integrity, respectfulness, responsibility, love, generosity, perseverance, reliability, conscientiousness, and self-discipline. And that leads us back to the sigh...