Chapter 31 of Proverbs is so popular it has become an adjective: “She’s a Proverbs 31 woman.” It is a great compliment—what woman would not want to be described this way? But we misread the passage when we take it literally. Consider:
‘She buys wool and flax to make things. She rises early to prepare food. She buys a field with her own money and plants a vineyard. Her arms are strong. She stays up late working. She spins wool, helps the needy, provides warm clothes for her family, makes her own blankets, dresses herself in fine purple. She sells linen clothes and belts. She is never idle, always busy. Her words are full of wisdom and good teaching’ Proverbs 31:13-27.
She knits clothes and blankets? Buys a field and cultivates a vineyard? So she’s a winemaker who runs a side business selling clothes made of linen and belts (are the belts linen too, or does she also tan leather?).
These images are not intended literally. God does not expect every “capable wife” to be an entrepreneur, bookkeeper, grape farmer, winemaker, seamstress, tailor, and bedspread maker. Instead, a capable wife works hard, puts family first, and shares wisdom. She does not waste money or time.
More importantly—THE CAPABLE WIFE USES HER GIFTS. Not every woman is called to make clothes, run a farm, and operate a string of small businesses. But every woman is called to do SOMETHING. The capable wife will use her gifts to serve God and be a blessing to her family. The CAPABLE WIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO RUN AN ENTRPRENEURIAL DYNASTY. (She does not even have to operate a home-based business!) Instead, the capable wife identifies her gifts and works hard to use them for God and her family, THUS PROVING THAT—
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord, SHE shall be praised” v.30.
God, help us remember that “The Proverbs 31 woman” does not try to do everything but does her best with the gifts You’ve given her.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 