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Juggling multiple priorities can either be the blight or the crown of Today’s Woman. The first step is actually recognizing something as a priority then being able to categorize all of them into manageable slices. Some people use lists, others use piles, some use other methods. Regardless, if we do not have a system for managing and prioritizing our tasks, we flounder in stress and stacks of chores. The most perfect woman described is the one in Proverbs 31 where we see a true Super Woman. This Wonder Woman was able to manage multiple priorities with seeming little difficulty. That was quite a feat because they did not have all the modern conveniences of today… nor any of the distractions such as phone, Twitter, Facebook, or blogs.

10

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

The question “who can find?” is reflective on how scarce this woman actually is. The qualities described here are worthy of all women, not just wives. Although, a woman may appear to many to be excellent, the character of her soul may only be skin deep—much like beauty—and not sink to the core of the woman. This is an excellent wake up call for women today, although few actually see it as such. Do we only appear excellent or are we marinated enough in God’s principles to actually be excellent? Not perfect, but excellent?

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

Her husband’s faith in her illuminates her character. Too often men and women marry with only a superficial trust, not the deep abiding trust that emanates from the heart. No matter how one slices it, that kind of trust is earned. She earned his trust by her actions, her thoughts, and her words, over a period of time. Too often we get caught up in the Me Generation Mentality. “If it feels good, do it” is not a Biblical principle. I have heard character defined as That which one does when no one is looking. Trust is an overlooked commodity. When your trust is well-placed, you have a good investment, just like the husband in this verse. We will ostensibly trust someone because of their position (both in the church and in business) but our trust will invariably be betrayed with a word or deed because humans are frail thing and there is only one Jesus. When trust is lost, it is extremely difficult to regain. Because this woman has the whole trust of her husband, she has exhibited that she is faithful and trustworthy. She has exemplified that she holds her husband in great esteem because trust is a two-way street. And the next verse illustrates that.

12

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

The discussion of exactly what is good could take up an entire book and is not the focus of this discussion. The Hebrew word is טוב ṭôb (tobe). It is used in the Hebrew just as it is in English as an adjective, an adverb, and even a noun. In the broadest sense it means to be good, pleasing, joyful, beneficial, pleasant, favorable, happy, kindly, loving, merry, prosperous, sweet, well, and to be righteous. This is exactly in line with goodness being listed as a fruit of the Spirit; it is actually a state of being as well as an action. This verse implies that her heart intent toward her husband is one of love as expressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. When she demonstrates she is trustworthy in all aspects, this makes her husband easy in his thoughts toward her—without jealousy or rancor. The good comes back as a balm upon her from her husband.

13

She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.

The capable wife does not sit wringing her hands in worry. She actually takes a delight in providing for her family. She doesn’t ask permission from hubby to go shopping for her “wool and flax”. She takes responsibility for clothing her family. “Works with her hands” is a Hebrew idiom for being a servant. The able wife not only is a servant but takes delight in being a servant. Working does a couple of things for us women. The number one thing it does is keep us out of trouble. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying here. Idle hands are the devil’s playground (another Proverb). This is true of all humans, not just women. When we women stay busy, we’re less likely to succumb to the wiles of Satan and no matter how unpalatable that may sound, it is the truth. The next few verses illustrate this truth.

14

She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.

This is the Biblical equivalent of “shop till you drop” with a marine flair. It indicates a picky-ness for just the right food to provide at just the right price… and in abundance, enough to fill a ship, a household a husband’s belly and all the children and servants as well, regardless of how deep the water may be.

15
She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.

A woman’s work is never done. Dr. Phil said that a mother of two children has the work equivalent of a full time job. If she has three children that work is equivalent to two full time jobs. It is astounding that a woman can have children and hold down a full-time job outside the home! That is the equivalent of two or more full time jobs. The “portions to her maidens” indicates she has servants…that’s plural. SuperMom does not have to do everything by herself! Although, even with servants to help, she still needs to be on top… aware of all that goes on in the household. Here again is the suggestion that being busy keeps one virtuous. But we can still sleep late on occasion…I don’t see anywhere in the Bible that it’s a sin to sleep late once in awhile. However, Proverbs 20:13 says we should not love sleep or we’ll go hungry and in Romans 12:11 Paul exhorts us we should be busy serving the Lord.

16

She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Does it say here that she has to ask her husband to buy the field? Does it say here she has to ask his permission to buy the field? She doesn’t even ask him for the money to buy the grape vines to plant. Where in the world did the notion that women should not work or have responsibilities outside the home originate? It came from second and third century influence of worldly culture. It certainly was not from God. Is it easier to care for children if a mother does not have to work outside the home? Absolutely! But it is not a sin for a woman to have a job outside the home. Is her primary concern the job or her husband and children? All twenty-two verses expound the most excellent woman’s main priority. It is her husband, her children and her household. She loves the Lord and the family He gave her. Studying this passage as a whole, it is because she loves the Lord that she labors for her husband and family so selflessly. It is because she loves her family, she gets up before dawn and works all day long tirelessly – at least that is how it looks on the outside. (But we all know it is impossible to keep going twenty-four seven without our daily refreshment in the Lord. We must take refuge in Him by reading His love letter to us and by prayer, bringing everything to Him or we’ll go bonkers.) By planting a vineyard, she is providing a legacy for the future. This is the Hebrew equivalent of a 401K…the vineyard’s fruit will provide for them in the senior years and will be passed on to the children as an inheritance. She not only cares for her family in the present, she provides an income for future generations. She has taken responsibility for this and is not depending upon her husband’s provisions.

From her earnings... we'll see where she earns the income next week. What an amazing woman she is. My mother is like this woman. She never sat down until the last dish was dried, everything was in its place, and she always had some kind of mending or handwork. Mothers are wonderful things. Happy Mother's Day.

Click for article Two in the series.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Best Ace