"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strenghth, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. 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. 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 31:10-31.
Dear Reader,
We've got a lot to do. As women of God, we've been called to many great things. I don't know how we will explain ourselves to the Judge if we aren't striving to measure up to this amazing woman in Proverbs. But this instruction doesn't condemn us before God; rather, it makes promises to the virtuous wife, and likewise, to the husband who wisely chose her as his helpmate. If we fulfill this great calling from the Lord, we as wives will be called "blessed" by our husbands and children (v. 28). We will be praised by our husbands and our own works (v. 28, 31), and we will be given the fruit of our hands (v. 31). Our husbands will trust us and, therefore, gain (v. 11), and they will be done only good by us, their wives (v. 12).
These verses teach us what we need to be as wives, and what we can expect as a reward. Being a virtuous wife does not go unnoticed by God, and prayerfully, by your own husband. I cannot express the gratitude I felt when my husband told me how nice it is to come home to a clean apartment on Monday. His appreciation only makes me want to do more.
I pray that we will remember the actions of the virtuous wife in Proverbs 31. Perhaps you will find a verse within that especially speaks to you, and ask the Lord to strengthen you to become a virtuous woman. I pray that He will have His hand on all of us, young and old, as we strive toward the day when we will be perfect.
Until then, God bless you,
adguglielmo
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