An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life. — Proverbs 31:10-12
Has anyone else wondered how on earth we even start aspiring to be this woman? And why should we even try? Of course there are benefits to having such character, but how do we get there? Is it worth the effort?
Our introduction to this woman is what really stands out to me. In the verses to follow, we learn that our leading lady is proactive in providing for her family, generous to the poor, and hard-working in order to contribute to the household in goods and income. And what does all of this mean to her husband?
HIS HEART TRUSTS IN HER.
“No lack of gain” could mean many things, but judging from the rest of this biography it has to do with handling material things, the care of their children, her self-esteem and her regard for him.
She is not being idle or consuming without contributing. He can trust her to do whatever she wishes with her material goods, because she is discerning and prudent. Their children are diligently cared for, and she has worked hard to provide for them and to prepare for the future. She takes care of herself, having strengthened her arms and made her own clothing. His own reputation in public circles benefits from her efforts. Wow. This is a woman on a mission!
SHE DOES HIM GOOD, NOT EVIL – ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE.
This is probably the most powerful statement in this biography. Women today as a group have the reputation of being manipulative, self-seeking— some even domineering and argumentative. But, in a stark contrast, what does this woman accomplish? EVERY DAY she does her husband good and not evil. She is actively seeking to cause him gain and good, to manage his household well, and to clothe herself with strength and dignity. This is definitely a woman worth more than jewels.
SUCH A WOMAN, WHO CAN FIND?
In the end, to be an excellent wife, is impossible without 2 things: fear of the Lord and a husband*. To fear the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), and it is also the only thing that would motivate someone to work that hard to be a blessing to their spouse. Her reward? Blessings money could never buy and no shopping trip could compare with. The ability to smile at the future. Children who rise up and call her blessed (Proverbs 31:28). And the praise of her husband:
Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all. — Proverbs 31:29
This could be your future. Does it sound worth it? Go for it… make it happen!
By Keeley Rollert
Keeley and her husband David are current students at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. They have been married just over a year. Check out her blog at http://wifeofapreacher.wordpress.com.
*Editor’s note: There is a very well-done post on Keeley’s blog about how to “catch” a husband who appreciates this kind of wife… click here.
Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!
Good job Keeley!! I have that if I am continually growing in my “walk” with the Lord, my “walk” as a wife just gets better all the time. 🙂
I have found that if…… (oops)
Great post, Keeley!
It’s amazing to me the contrast between what a godly marriage looks like and what a wordly marriage looks like. In a godly marriage, the wife receives praise from her children, praise from her husband and (most importantly) praise from her God. It’s the opposite of what we see in the world: an underappreciated, slave-driven, run-down wife whose days seem filled with toil and strife. Truly, God’s ways are higher (Isaiah 55:9).
Great article Keeley!
It looks like we can add writing to the list of your many talents. 🙂
Great article! She is already doing such great work on her own blog 🙂 It is awesome to know about all the different outlets people are using to talk about God’s word!
I really enjoyed this article, Keeley! I especially enjoyed it knowing you personally and that already as a young bride you honor your husband daily and that you practice doing “him good and no evil” all of your days. It is evident by the smile that is regularly on David’s face. 🙂
I enjoyed your article. It is a joy to see a young lady striving to be a wife who wants to do her husband “good” all the days of her life. :o) God bless you!
Not bad article, but I really miss that you didn’t express your opinion, but ok you just have different approach
Thanks for the comment – my main goal is to pull meaning out of Scripture instead of giving opinion. Opinions tend to have a Wikipedia-like feel whereas Scripture is concrete. Thanks for reading!