An Excellent Wife Who Can Find In This Age?
Proverbs 31:10-31
Written by Elisha Larsen on October 12, 2002
Last updated June 19, 2007
John MacArthur’s tapes on the Excellent Wife brought many different thoughts and concerns to my mind. I really enjoyed his emphases and teaching on the importance of a woman in the home. Today there are so many women who (as Proverbs 14:1 teaches) are foolish with their own hands and tear down their home. This same passage states also that the wisest of women builds her house. From the tapes and living in today’s society, I am able to see both truths of this passage demonstrated in different families.
Dr. MacArthur mentioned the Modern 80’s woman as someone who would essentially be concerned for herself and her comforts above her husband and children; totally degrading what God has blessed her with. She is negligent of the important role the Lord has prepared for women in the home. The society of that day as well as today would say that women should exercise their rights to be successful in their career and be equal with men. This leading to the work in the home being half and half, the nutrition of the family would consist of frozen meals, cereal, and of course she would look her best. The sad thing is that this is the case for most American woman today. People view being a housewife as an unprofessional and unnecessary aspect of the family. However, God has ordained this as one of the most important and priceless characteristics in the family.
The Bible and particularly the book of Proverbs in the thirty-first chapter gives us a picture of what a virtuous wife will look like. This passage is used throughout history to give a clear description of what a man should look for in a woman and what a woman should strive to be. The woman should not focus on her outward appearance rather she should be developed in her character. The passage begins with telling us how priceless she is, and how hard it is to find woman of such value. Proverbs 4:12 tells us that a wife is to be the crown of her husband. Today this woman is an especially rare find. Her character is to be godly in her physical appearance, her thoughts, her moral living, as well as in her spiritual strength, but above all she is to love God with her whole heart. Wives are to be good homemakers, generous neighbors; they should have influence as a teacher, and excellence as a person. The proverbs 31 woman is a woman of force.
Not only is this woman a woman of virtue, her character is one that can be trusted. This characteristic touched me the most. Her highest priority is to care for her husband’s best interest. There is no jealousy, fear, or anxiety about her. Her husband’s care is her primary concern. She leads her household in good stewardship with what her husband provides. Therefore he is able to trust her to use what he brings home for his and his family’s best. This woman does her husband good by strengthening him, building him up, and encouraging him. You will never find her taking from him. All the days of her life she desires to do what is best for him, she will not fluctuate.
The home she creates for him allows him to do his best for God. Not only is she a woman of strong character, but she is active in her search for the best quality in food and clothing for her family. She is knowledgeable, resourceful and gives her best to her family. This woman knows her purpose and is active in the pleasure of her heart. Her pleasure is in line with the LORD. Her motivation is love because she loves the Lord. She is willing to sacrifice her time and comforts for the joy of her family. This woman is not lazy. She receives so much joy when giving her all as a wife, mother, neighbor, and daughter of Christ.