Why Would I Want To Be Her?

 

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I was already a married woman when I was introduced to the Proverbs 31 Woman. I thought that she was an unattainable standard. How in the world did anyone think they could do and be all that this woman was? No thank you I said and dismissed it, for a time.

As I got older and began to study the Bible, I revisited this famous woman. This time I saw value in her and wanted to be just like her. I wanted my kids to “rise up and call me blessed” (v28). I wanted my husband to “praise me” (v28) and “have full confidence in me” (v11). Let me tell you an important fact about myself. Okay, several facts. I am task-oriented and competitive. When I set my mind to something, I intend to accomplish it. Period. Got all that down? So, fully energized and armed with a challenge, I tried to become the Proverbs 31 Woman using my own strength and resources. Can you guess how that turned out?

I failed. At first I thought it was the competitiveness in me that made me fail miserably. Now I believe it was God, teaching me a lesson. It would have been great if I had learned it that time. But no. I guess in some ways it was a good thing because I’d not be writing this otherwise. But, for my family and myself, it would have been great if I had listened and perceived what God was trying to say. Instead, every time I would read that particular proverb, I’d try, once again, to be her. Each time I tried to use my own strength and resources. And each time I would fail, miserably. It’s a wonder my husband didn’t run in the opposite direction!

Recently I circled back around the P31 camp to see if she was still there. Yep, she was still there. She was still an unattainable goal for me. But then, I realized some key things. First, nowhere in verses 10- 31 does it say that she did all these things in one day or even at the same time in her life. Some she probably did. But there are some that could feasibly have occurred at different times in her life. Second, there is a key verse that provides the secret to this well-known woman. Look at verse 30. It says she “fears the Lord”. So God was right there in her life directing her. That was a turning point for me. Such a simple thing. But somehow I had been blinded to it all this time. But now my eyes were wide open and I was ready to get at it.

Some of you may be wondering what is so special about this Proverbs 31 Woman. Why should you want to be like her? Why do I want to be like her? Well let’s sit down right on Proverbs 31:10. It says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” What a description! So what is noble character? I think it means demonstrating loyalty, generosity, courage and a sense of honor. What would that look like for you and me? We could start with being loyal to our family and friends by supporting then during difficult times, even if the sacrifice is great. We’d be generous with our money and our time. Stepping out in faith and being courageous about doing that thing we know God is asking us to do would be part of the picture as well. Finally we can display a sense of honor by never putting ourselves in a situation that can be interpreted as immoral or sinful.

Some of you may be saying, Mari, I can’t do all that. From my own experience I can say “Yes you can.” You can do it if you ask God to help you. And then you have to trust Him. Period. It’s a three step plan. Ask. Believe. Act. Simple huh? A more fleshed out version would be: Ask in prayer. Believe God will empower you. Act in faith.

Still simple. You can do this. We can be just like her