SUPER WOMAN - SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING
Proverbs 31:25-26, 30 NLT
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
In a culture that is supposedly progressive, women are still noted for their beauty. Ever notice how Hollywood can offer starring roles to older men actors, but older actresses are typically passed over for top billing? The Bible will mention women who are beautiful but will also note handsome men. Even so, this is not what is commended in scriptures and this 31st chapter of Proverbs highlights what heaven qualifies as an outstanding woman.
Verses 10-31 of Proverbs 31 list the qualities of a woman that heaven applauds. Verse ten states that a wife of noble or virtuous character is more precious than rubies. Right off the bat, the scriptures are exalting the character of women, not the beauty. And this virtuous woman is not anti-feminist. She is involved in buying real estate and planting vineyards. You can imagine how strange this must have sounded to ancient cultures that treated women as property. But God has always treated women better than society. Jesus was kind, not condescending to women.
In verses 25-26, we see that this godly, noble, charactered woman is clothed with strength and dignity or honor. Again, this is heaven’s perspective of what is of high value in a woman. Strength and honor are not reserved for men. And this woman is a woman of faith because she laughs without fear of the future. Someone who can maintain a cheerful attitude and live without fear of what the future holds is a person of strength.
This superwoman is a woman who has wisdom. Her words are wise, and they are filled with kindness as she is giving instructions. Wisdom and instruction seems to be more easily received if they are delivered on a plate of kindness.
Verse 30 is where beauty and charm are mentioned. But beauty and charm are not characteristics that are exalted. On the contrary, charm and beauty are minimized. Charm is deceptive, meaning a charming person is often not genuine. Charm is deceptive when it is intended to give advantages to the one using it. A gracious, kind person is one who benefits the other person. Charm is often used to gain personal advantage.
Beauty does not last. I don’t have to remind anyone of that. Well, anyone over 60. When we are in our teens and 20s, we think we’ll look this good forever. However, Father Time pays his visits to everyone; no one is skipped. Paul said that the outward man, the one who is visible, is perishing, but the inward man, our spiritual man, is renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).
So who is the woman that is to be praised? Not the most beautiful, the most charming or the wealthiest. The woman who is to be praised is the one who fears God. The woman who has a deep reverence for the Lord is the one that Heaven applauds.
APPLICATION
Some have taken verses 10- 31 and used it as a type of what the church should be as the “bride of Christ.” And considering all the great qualities listed I don’t have a problem with that. But the takeaway for me is that noble character is obtainable for all of us. All of us, regardless of gender, can be clothed with strength and honor. All of us can laugh with no fear of the future. And all of us can have a fear of the Lord. These are not limited to being only feminine traits, these are godly traits we can all practice.