Women of God

Proverbs 31

The classic chapter of the Bible people bring women to is Proverbs 31. In this chapter of the Bible a man is describing a woman who is "far more precious than jewels (v.10)." I thought it would be a great place to start.

Trustworthy

This woman is a great example to Christian women not just wives. One thing we see in this woman is that she is trustworthy. Verse 11 says "her husband trusts in her." Women of God should be trustworthy people whether it is to their husbands or to anyone around them.

Hard Working

This woman is also a really hard worker. Not only is she a hard worker but she "works with willing hands (v. 13)." It is easy for us to complain as teenagers when our parents ask us to do something, but God calls us to be willing to work. This is one thing I struggle with, finding the motivation to work. This woman also went to find good food for her family (v.14). As teenagers most of us probably don't go shopping however, we should be trying to eat healthy meals and maybe offer to make dinner for our families. Later on, in the chapter verse 22 this woman is also being a very hard worker. and notice how it says she makes the clothing out of fine linen and purple. Purple was a royal color, and those clothes would have looked very high quality.

Waking up Early

Now comes the part that is one of the hardest things for me personally. She woke up in the morning before it was even light out to make food for her household (v. 15). Now I don't think this is telling us as teenagers to wake up just to make food for the rest of our family. However, we should be waking up early to get ready for the day. Some things waking up early helps with is giving you time before school to read your Bible, workout, do chores, and get ready for school.

Thoughtful with Purchases

This woman also "considers a field and buys it (v.16)." She is thoughtful about what she buys. She doesn't just buy whatever but really thinks about it and decides if it will be profitable. She bought the field in order to plant a vineyard (v.16). A vineyard would have been a great way to earn money and would have been good for just her family as well. 

Physical and Emotional Strength

In verse 17 it says, "she dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong (v.17)." This woman was strong, but it wasn't just because she was born like that. She had to work for it. That means she wasn't just sitting around but was being deliberate on doing things to make herself strong. Now I am not sure if this is talking about emotional strength too, but it seems like it might be. "She dresses herself in strength" makes it seem that she also has emotional stability along with physical stability.

Profitable

Verse 18 says, "She perceives that her merchandise is profitable (v.18)." She made sure what she made was in good condition. This may not seem applicable if you don't make anything. However, as teenagers I know we all have homework we should be doing. Now what we can take from this verse is that we should be making sure what we turn in is the best we can do and not just turned in after taking five minutes. Right after it talks about merchandise being profitable verse 18 talks about how her lamp doesn't go out at night. This shows that she worked until the work was done not until she thought it was time to sleep.

"Opening Her Hand for the Poor"

"She Opens her hands for the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy (v.20)." We should be willing to help others. Now what might this look like for teenagers? Well, if we see someone at school sitting by themselves maybe go talk to them. Another way we could live this out is giving to charity. Now remember there are other ways to help people then charity. So, if you don't have anything to give a charity look around for people who need help. You may help an old lady with her lawn. We should be asking the Lord to show us how we can be used to help someone every day.

Not Worrying

In verse 21 it says that the woman is not afraid of the snow coming. The reason why she does not worry is explained a little further down in the verse the reason is because she is confident that the clothes she has made for her family are good enough for this weather. This shows she was prepared before she knew the storm was going to come but she was not afraid. We should be prepared for things but not worrying about them. I am going to skip ahead a second to verse 25 where it says, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." She is not worried about the future but instead laughs at it. As teenagers it is easy to get wrapped up in our futures, but we should be living in the present looking for ways to honor God now. 

Husband is honored by her 

Most likely none of the teenagers reading this are married but in verse 23 it says her husband was known in the gates. People knew him because she provided for him. We should not be becoming friends with people so we can be lifted up but so we can lift our friends up.

She is wise

"She opens her mouth with wisdom," the Bible says in verse 26. what does this verse mean? I think it is obvious what this verse is saying. She thinks before speaking and making sure what she says is wise and profitable. As teenagers we can say so many dumb things, because we don't think before speaking. However, a woman of God should be thinking before speaking. So that is my challenge for you, to be thinking before you speak. it does not only say that she speaks wisdom though. It says, "The teaching of kindness is on her tongue (v.26)." She teaches with kindness and teaches kindness to those around her. We need to make sure we are being kind to those around us.

The woman is blessed

Proverbs 23:28-31 ESV says, "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ^"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates." I think that is pretty self-explanatory.

That concludes the study of Proverbs 31; I highly recommend you study it yourselves.  Please leave comments I would love to hear you impute.