whatsoeverthings// VIRTUOUS

First of all, I want to thank Hannah for inviting me to contribute to her new blog.  I consider it an honor and a privilege to be a part of it, and I pray that it will be a blessing and encouragement to all who visit. It is my desire to see young ladies grow and become all that God designed them to be. Titus 2:3-5

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Often when Christian ladies hear the word virtuous, our minds go straight to that one particular woman who makes us cringe - Mrs. Proverbs 31.  She is the original supermom who seemingly can do no wrong. When we compare ourselves with her we can feel so inadequate! Looking at the activity (vs. 10-31) that comprises her life, it’s easy to begin to compile a mental to-do list. Get up at 4:30 am, go out and kill the fatted calf for breakfast, which, by the way, is served at 6am SHARP! Then it’s out to the barn to feed the myriad of farm animals, tend to the acres of gardens, come back in and sew some frocks to sell at the local farmer’s market, find time to buy a vineyard – and then plant it!  Accomplish all of that by noon, so you can have lunch on the table for your brood. After lunch, go out and find some poor people to help, make some fancy clothes to wear, get dinner on the table, and then stay up late into the night making fine linen.  Not to mention taking care of your husband and all of your children.  Oh, and by the way, do all of this while being very kind and wise.  Well, I don’t know about you, but I get tired just typing that! If we measure women by those standards can anyone be virtuous? But here is why I think the Proverbs 31 woman has gotten a bad rap. You see, it isn’t her schedule or her particular tasks that we are to focus on, but rather, we are to glean the very characteristics which make her virtuous. She wasn’t virtuous because she woke before the sun came up, or because she bought a vineyard, or because she could sew, for many wicked women have done those things.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary has a very simple definition of virtuous – it means morally excellent.

 

Even though we aren’t supposed to make her particular tasks our focus, she isn’t in the Bible for us to simply scoff at, either. Verse 10 says: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” God says that she is valuable. How many women do you know who are morally excellent? God’s Word tells us that she is rare.  It isn’t that women lack the potential to be virtuous, but rather that very few desire to be, or will allow God to make them virtuous. Since purity and holiness can only come from God, a woman who will not walk with God will not be virtuous.  A price far above rubies indicates that such a woman is priceless and highly sought after. An overview of Proverbs 31 shows a woman who loves her husband and her children, she is hard working. She isn’t lazy. She is resourceful and uses her skills for the good of her family. She is a kind and nurturing mother who faithfully sees to the keeping of her household. She is honorable and strong. She is godly. Virtuous women teach others to be so. They pass their virtue and character on to their daughters, and to other young women.

Titus 2:3-5 tells us:  “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. “

When we compare virtuous women of the Bible with the average woman today, there is a great contrast! Remember Esther, Ruth, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, Lois, Eunice, Lydia. How many women do you know today whose behavior “becometh holiness”?  How many “wear the pants in the family”, are bossy, rude, loud, provoking, immodest in attire and behavior, brawling, contentious, vulgar, lazy, incompetent and irresponsible mothers, can’t (or won’t) cook, keep a messy and chaotic home, are selfish, rebellious, ungodly……the list can go on and on.

If we will be virtuous women we first need to possess virtuous character, and that starts with a desire for holiness and purity, and a hatred of sin. Realize that God has the power to make you a Proverbs 31 woman, but you have to be willing to let Him. Don’t look at the Proverbs 31 woman in awe, imagining that being virtuous is unobtainable. It is God’s will that every woman be virtuous. Simply determine to be one of the few who will let Him make you so.