Sunday, May 10, 2009
First off, let me start by saying, "Happy Mother's Day!" I am 100% sure that I have the best mom in the world, and it doesn't take long away from her at school to realize how much I take for granted all that she does! On that note, let's jump into what I want to say. Because it's Mother's Day, our pastor took a break from the sermon series we've been going through, and spoke on four attributes of a godly woman. Though the things he spoke of are not new points to me, it reminded me of how important it is for us women to be the ladies God has called us to be. Being at college there's a lot of boy drama (none of which I am personally involved in, may I just say). There are so many people-girls and boys alike- that are so intent on finding "the one" before they graduate, that it becomes a major priority. (May I just say that this is really scary to be around. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard a guy say to a girl, "God has given me these feelings for you, and I know He is telling me we're supposed to be together.") I think that it is really easy to get so caught up in trying to find someone to be with that we don't think about becoming someone worth finding. This is something that really bothered me. I began to think about what it is a woman worth finding should be like, and I looked at what the Bible had to say about it. This is what I found:
Proverbs 31:10- “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.”
The words, “virtuous wife” literally mean “a wife of valor.” This extends to all forms of excellence and strength in all areas of life. It says that a woman with such excellence is worth far more than rubies. She is someone worth finding. However, the fact that the first statement is a question, “Who can find” means that a woman of this excellence is not common. She is a rare gem. So, how do we become such sought after women? Well, the rest of this passage gives a long list of specific duties and such of a virtuous wife, but I think that 1 Peter 3 hits the core of what it takes.
1 Peter 3:1-4- “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, (2)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. (3)Do not let your adornment be merely outward- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel- (4)rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
This passage is speaking specifically to Christian women married to non-Christian men, but still describes the conduct of a virtuous wife. “The one” should have “chaste conduct,” meaning she should be pure, spotless and free from all impurity. This speaks of sexual purity, but it goes much deeper than that. This purity of character should be accompanied, it says, “by fear.” This fear, or reverence and respect should be observable in three different types of relationships: first, in her relationship with God. A man should be able to see the great awe and reverence she has for God. Secondly, her husband should be able to observe the great respect she shows toward him as her husband. (The women Peter is speaking to in this passage are married, but I think we can take this and apply it to how we treat any of our guy friends, yes?) Thirdly, a man should be able to see the respect she shows to others in all other outside relationships. Her purity of character should be rooted in all relationships she has and in everything she does. In fact, the word “observe” here means narrowly looking into, meaning that it is something deeply integrated in her character. A man should be able to see such purity of character in a ruby-of-a-woman as he watches how she conducts her relationships. Verse three speaks of outward adornment. Adornment is not in itself bad. God has adorned the earth with so many beauties. However, a woman of God should not allow herself to be consumed in gaining attention or praise for outward beauty. Rather, says verse four, she should devote herself to the development of her character and inner beauty. Unlike the things used to decorate herself outward, inner beauty doesn’t rust or decay, This inner beauty is “incorruptible.” It is “gentle,” which, according to the dictionary, means “kindly, amiable; not severe, rough, or violent, mild,” and quiet in spirit. One commentary I read said that gentleness or meekness keeps her from provoking others, while quietness keeps her from being provoked. I find it interesting that the things listed in verse 3 are seen as precious and valuable to the world, but this inner beauty is precious in God’s sight.
Proverbs 31:30- “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Again, beauty and charm are not at all bad things. God created beauty. However, they are not of eternal significance. Charm can be deceitful. Have you ever met someone who seemed very charming when you first met them, but once you get to know them better, you find that they are not the people you thought they were? Charm is what attracts people on the outside, but it does not necessarily mean that is what is in the heart. Beauty, too, can be deceitful, and we know from the passage in 1 Peter that beauty on this earth will not last forever. A woman of God, a woman worth being, a woman worth finding, does not place her primary concern on how people perceive her. She is a woman who fears the Lord and pours her devotion not into things of this world, but into knowing God. She is the one graced with eternal beauty and will be praised for it. This is the woman we should all strive to be. This is a woman worth being chased and worth being found.
Proverbs 31:10- “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.”
The words, “virtuous wife” literally mean “a wife of valor.” This extends to all forms of excellence and strength in all areas of life. It says that a woman with such excellence is worth far more than rubies. She is someone worth finding. However, the fact that the first statement is a question, “Who can find” means that a woman of this excellence is not common. She is a rare gem. So, how do we become such sought after women? Well, the rest of this passage gives a long list of specific duties and such of a virtuous wife, but I think that 1 Peter 3 hits the core of what it takes.
1 Peter 3:1-4- “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, (2)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. (3)Do not let your adornment be merely outward- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel- (4)rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
This passage is speaking specifically to Christian women married to non-Christian men, but still describes the conduct of a virtuous wife. “The one” should have “chaste conduct,” meaning she should be pure, spotless and free from all impurity. This speaks of sexual purity, but it goes much deeper than that. This purity of character should be accompanied, it says, “by fear.” This fear, or reverence and respect should be observable in three different types of relationships: first, in her relationship with God. A man should be able to see the great awe and reverence she has for God. Secondly, her husband should be able to observe the great respect she shows toward him as her husband. (The women Peter is speaking to in this passage are married, but I think we can take this and apply it to how we treat any of our guy friends, yes?) Thirdly, a man should be able to see the respect she shows to others in all other outside relationships. Her purity of character should be rooted in all relationships she has and in everything she does. In fact, the word “observe” here means narrowly looking into, meaning that it is something deeply integrated in her character. A man should be able to see such purity of character in a ruby-of-a-woman as he watches how she conducts her relationships. Verse three speaks of outward adornment. Adornment is not in itself bad. God has adorned the earth with so many beauties. However, a woman of God should not allow herself to be consumed in gaining attention or praise for outward beauty. Rather, says verse four, she should devote herself to the development of her character and inner beauty. Unlike the things used to decorate herself outward, inner beauty doesn’t rust or decay, This inner beauty is “incorruptible.” It is “gentle,” which, according to the dictionary, means “kindly, amiable; not severe, rough, or violent, mild,” and quiet in spirit. One commentary I read said that gentleness or meekness keeps her from provoking others, while quietness keeps her from being provoked. I find it interesting that the things listed in verse 3 are seen as precious and valuable to the world, but this inner beauty is precious in God’s sight.
Proverbs 31:30- “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Again, beauty and charm are not at all bad things. God created beauty. However, they are not of eternal significance. Charm can be deceitful. Have you ever met someone who seemed very charming when you first met them, but once you get to know them better, you find that they are not the people you thought they were? Charm is what attracts people on the outside, but it does not necessarily mean that is what is in the heart. Beauty, too, can be deceitful, and we know from the passage in 1 Peter that beauty on this earth will not last forever. A woman of God, a woman worth being, a woman worth finding, does not place her primary concern on how people perceive her. She is a woman who fears the Lord and pours her devotion not into things of this world, but into knowing God. She is the one graced with eternal beauty and will be praised for it. This is the woman we should all strive to be. This is a woman worth being chased and worth being found.
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