THE WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER" (PROVERBS 31:10-31)

SERIES: MOTHER'S DAY

GCEFC: MAY 9, 2010

INTRODUCTION

1. To help put us into a Mother’s Day frame of mind, I thought I’d read something entitled: Because I’m a Man, with just a few modifications to the original.

2. Because I'm a man, I must hold the television remote control in my hand while I watch TV. If the remote has been misplaced, I'll miss a whole show looking for it.

3. Because I'm a man, when I lock the keys in the car, I’ll fiddle with a wire clothes hanger until long after hypothermia has set in.

4. Because I’m a man, when the car isn't running well, I’ll pop the hood and stare at the engine as if I know what I'm looking at and that I know what to do.

5. Because I'm a man, I can be relied upon to pick up basic groceries at the store, like milk or bread. I cannot be expected to get exotic items like lettuce or cheese.

6. Because I'm a man, I don't think we're lost—and no, I don't think we should stop and ask for directions. Why would a complete stranger know where we're going?

7. Because I'm a man, you don't have to ask me if I liked the movie. Chances are, if you're crying at the end of it, I didn't.

8. Because I'm a man, I think what you're wearing is fine. I thought what you were wearing five minutes ago was fine, too. Either pair of shoes is fine. With the belt or without it looks fine. Your hair is fine. You look fine—can we go now?

9. This may be one of the reasons why motherhood is a challenge.

10. Some of you are awaiting motherhood. Others of you are passed the more demanding years of motherhood. Others of you are in the thick of motherhood.

11. PSA 127 says: Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.

12. Children are not a curse, or a pain, or a bother, or an intrusion, or a problem. Children are a gift from God.

13. If you have children, you’re blessed. If in God's providence you do not have children, God may have a different way of blessing you, or you may have to wait.

14. Being Mother's Day, we're focusing on moms. Which should cover everyone.

a. Those of you who are moms.

b. Those of you who hope to be moms.

c. Those of us who are married to a mom.

d. Those of us who had a mom or who have a mom.

15. PRO 31 is one of the best known passages in the Bible on motherhood. A full 22 verses devoted to the subject.

16. The reason there are 22 is because the passage is a Hebrew acrostic. Each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet—22 in all.

17. The Hebrew acrostic made the passage easier to memorize. Historians tell us that Hebrew children memorized the entire Pentateuch—the first 5 books of the Old Testament. That’s not 187 verses—that’s 187 chapters of verses.

18. Some question whether this passage is purely theoretical. That it’s the idealized wife—not an actual wife.

19. It’s not a complete picture of a noble wife. There’s little about her relationship with her husband—other than that he’s confident in her, and praises her.

20. And there’s little about her relationship with her children—other than that she takes good care of them, and they call her blessed.

21. But it’s a good picture of the kind of woman the Word of God commends.

a. It’s not meant to discourage a woman because she isn’t living up to the ideal.

b. It’s not meant to be a comparison between women.

c. It’s not to say that this is the only model of womanhood and motherhood that pleases God and husbands and children and community.

d. Rather, it’s meant to give us a profile of a woman who’s a wife of noble character. And to be an inspiration to those who are not.

e. Models and examples are not given to make us despair and give up. But to motivate us and inspire us to grow and develop toward the ideal.

f. It’s a target at which to aim. It’s a destination toward which to travel. It’s not a judgment on where we are—but an encourager for us to move forward.

A. THE WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER IS RARE

1. V10: A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. By noble we don't mean royalty, but one of high moral character and excellence.

2. V10 tells us 2 things about this wife of noble character. First—that she’s rare—who can find one? And second—that she’s valuable—worth far more than rubies.

3. Some of you are thinking: If a wife of noble character is hard to find, you should try finding a husband of noble character.

4. This is not to say that wives of noble character don't exist. They’re just not common. We don’t see them every day.

5. And not only are they rare...they're valuable. Some things are valuable because they’re rare. But not everything is valuable because it’s rare. Tornadoes are rare in New York State—but they’re not valuable.

6. And she’s worth far more than rubies. Her value is compared to something everyone would agree is of great worth.

7. We might have compared her not to rubies, but to diamonds. But rubies are 1 of only 4 previous stones—so be worth “far more than rubies” is to be worth a great deal. The point is that a wife of noble character is exceedingly valuable and rare.

B. SHE IS NOBLE AS A WIFE

1. So in what ways is this woman of noble character…noble? If Elizabeth Barrett Browning had written this proverb, she would have said: Let me count the ways.

2. Starting in V11, we see that she’s noble as a wife.

3. V11: Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

4. Wives, I hope your husband has confidence in you. And husbands, I hope you have confidence in your wife. She has a lot of responsibilities.

5. But without confidence, responsibilities are a heavy burden. To both the one having them and to the one giving them.

6. Of course, the truth is that confidence is earned, not bestowed. You don’t have confidence in someone just because it’s a good thing to have. Confidence is the result of a confidence-enhancing track record.

C. SHE IS NOBLE IN HER ACTIVITY

1. In V13-14 we see she’s noble in her activity. This lady definitely does not sit around the house. She’s very busy. And she’s productive in her busyness.

2. V13: She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She decides what she’s going to do and she does it with enthusiasm—with eager hands.

3. They say the world is full of willing people—some willing to work and the rest willing to let them.

4. But the wife of noble character is willing to work herself. She’s not afraid of it—she welcomes it eagerly.

5. Ladies, you’ll like V14—she’s a good shopper. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. The idea is that she knows what is needed and figures out how to secure it—she’s industrious.

6. V15: She gets up while it is still dark. She’s not a late sleeper. Notice it doesn’t say she’s a morning person—just that she gets up early.

7. Same verse: She provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. So you say hmmm…servant girls….doesn’t sound like my house!

8. Which makes it clear this was a woman of means. Which makes her industrious activity all the more impressive. And maybe the reason she’s a woman of means is because she’s been a woman of productive activity.

9. V16: She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. So she’s a shrewd businesswoman. She considers an investment.

10. And she buys the field she’s considered. And out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. Which implies the vineyard is not frivolous but profitable. And she doesn’t go into debt to get it because she buys it out of her earnings.

11. V17: She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. Again, she’s enthusiastic—she doesn’t drag herself out of bed. She doesn’t mope around the house complaining about all she has to do—she just does it!

12. V18: She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. She works beyond the factory whistle. She works until the work is done—not until the clock says she’s finished.

13. V19: In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. This was long before industrial textiles. Even before the days of spinning wheels.

14. In those days a woman held the distaff in one arm and the spindle in the other. Think of winding up kite string for hours and you get the idea.

D. SHE IS NOBLE AS A NEIGHBOR

1. She is also noble as a neighbor. V20: She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

2. She realizes that God has blessed her—so she’s a blessing to others.

3. I know many of you women are good neighbors. I’ve heard others speak about it. You see the needs of those around you and you help.

4. And you do this not to the detriment of your own family—you serve in addition to your own family. That’s noble and God commends it.

E. SHE IS NOBLE AS A PLANNER

1. She is also noble as a planner. V21: When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

2. She has no fear of cold weather because she’s prepared for it. She knows it’s coming so she takes action before it arrives.

3. It reminds me of the ant just a few verses earlier: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.

4. Ants aren’t commended for their strength but for their planning. And even though we can’t predict the future—we can plan for the future.

5. We’re responsible to plan for the things we can expect. This is commended in the ant, in people generally, and in the wife of noble character specifically.

F. SHE IS NOBLE IN CONFIDENCE

1. Notice V23: her husband is respected at the city gate. I think it’s very difficult for a husband to excel in the public sphere unless he has a wife who embodies many of these qualities.

2. It’s just too difficult to keep everything afloat and functional unless the wife is tending to many of these areas. Things tend to collapse otherwise.

3. V25 says: she can laugh at the days to come. This woman is not a worrier. She doesn’t obsess about things she cannot control. She doesn’t wring her hands when things don’t go her way.

4. She laughs at the future. The future is no threat to her. She’s ready. Not in an arrogant way—but in the confidence of one who’s prepared for it.

5. V26: She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She speaks what is wise and she teaches what is wise.

6. V28: Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Though it doesn’t indicate here WHEN they do this, or at what AGE.

7. But eventually they will. When they know enough to know that they should—they will. So you may have to be patient.

8. Your children may not think you’re so noble just now. But if you ARE, they’ll eventually come to realize it. But you may have to wait.

9. And her husband praises her too. Of course, we husbands don’t have the excuse that we aren’t old enough to know—we’re old enough to know.

G. SHE IS NOBLE IN HER SPIRITUALITY

1. Lastly, she is noble in her spirituality. V30: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned…

2. This woman fears the Lord. She fears the Lord in a healthy way. She knows that to neglect the spiritual aspect of noble character is to miss the foundation of it.

3. If the home and family are the principal elements of life. Then the spiritual life is the principal element of the home and family.

4. The wife of noble character may be a good wife, a good mother, a good neighbor. But she must also be a godly woman.

5. V30 says that charm is deceptive. It doesn’t say charm is always deceptive. Just that it can be and often is.

6. I like charm. Charm is a good thing. In fact, I would say there are precious few wives of noble character who don’t have charm.

7. Some of you ladies have charm. You know who you are and so do we. You’re pleasant to be around. You’re engaging. Your interesting. You’re interested. You’re positive.

8. But though charm is a good quality...it can be deceptive. So it's nothing to build noble character on.

9. Nor is beauty. But watch this… Charm may be deceptive—but beauty is always fleeting. At least physical beauty is fleeting.

10. Physical beauty cannot last and it will not last. Perpetual physical beauty is achievable by no woman—but noble character is achievable by any woman.

11. Young, old, single, married, divorced, beautiful, not so, with children, without children. And though charm may be deceptive and beauty may be fleeting...noble character can last forever.

12. You can take that with you. And it's of great worth while you're here. Everyone benefits from it. Husband, children, family, church, neighborhood, community.

CONCLUSION

1. Notice 2 final things. Notice that a woman of noble character who is in a right spiritual relationship with God is be what? She’s to be praised! She's worthy of honor and respect and praise.

2. If you’re married to a woman like this. Or you have a mother like this. Or you know someone like this. You should give them the reward they’ve earned! That reward is…praise!

3. You don't have to be perfect to be a woman of noble character. And even if you aren't there yet...hopefully it’s at least the direction you’re headed.