Unfading
     Beauty

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord,
is to be praised.
—PROV 31:30

Fearing God denotes a reverential trust in God, including the hatred of evil.  Romans 12:9 challenges the worthy woman to “abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”  She assimilates a true perspective of values based on the Word of God.  The woman embracing the principle of God-fearing will stand in awe, venerate, worship, and love her Lord with all her heart (Matt 22:37).  The practical application of the godly lifestyle will include an individual hunger and thirst after God (Ps 42:1-2a), an attitude of submission to God’s will and ways (Jas 4:7), and a consistent evaluation of her spiritual status (1 Cor 11:31-32).  She purposes to make spiritual principles a priority in her life (Matt 6:33) and refuses to slump into a tired routine regarding her relationship with her Christ.  The joy of the Lord is her strength (Neh 8:10b).

Exercising 1 Corinthians 10 as a warning, the worthy woman acknowledges the traps that the ancient Hebrews fell into regarding their spiritual condition.   They craved evil things (v.6), were idolatrous (v.7), began practicing immorality (v.8), became guilty of presumption (v.9), and were cynical and negative (v.10).  In the midst of God’s best blessings, they became cool, distant, and indifferent.  Not suddenly, but slowly, the keen edge of enthusiasm became dull.  Applying the wisdom of 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, she is careful to learn from the example of the disobedient and indolent Jews in Moses’ time.

Next week’s posting is focused on The Reward.

"Portraying Christian Femininity" by Patricia E. Ennis is from the book Think Biblically edited by John MacArthur with the Master's College Faculty, copyright 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crosswaybooks.org

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her;
Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.
—PROV 31:28-29

The sense of benevolence that one should possess for another person involves an intense love for others, including one’s husband, children, friends, and relations, plus a steadfast commitment to God.  She demonstrates a strong liking for others and purposes to activate the Titus 2:3-5 principle of the “younger women learning from the older women” in her life.  The worthy woman is approachable by others and refuses to be a “respecter of persons” (Jas 2:1-13). 

That the worthy woman first concentrated her domestic efforts on those in her own home is demonstrated by their response to her.  Her husband and children spontaneously cheer her (Prov 31:27-29).    Every day, when they open their eyes, they rejoice that she belongs to them.  She chooses to live a consistent life as a wife and mother.

Having made her home her priority, the worthy woman works creatively with her husband (Amos 3:3; Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:1-6).  She knows him well enough to respect and honor him (Eph 5:33b), as well as to be his helpmate and friend (Gen 2:18).  Training her children well by implementing child-rearing principles based on the Word of God (Deut 6:6-7; 11:18-21; Ps 78:1-4; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4; Col 3:21; 2 Tm 3:14-17) is the focus of her life while her children are at home.  Finally, she sets an example for the character qualities that she wishes to instill in the lives of her children, realizing that they will assimilate the behaviors she models (1 Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1-2).

Next week’s posting is focused on Fearing God.

"Portraying Christian Femininity" by Patricia E. Ennis is from the book Think Biblically edited by John MacArthur with the Master's College Faculty, copyright 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crosswaybooks.org

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
—PROV 31:26

Mothers frequently remind their children, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” James 3:2,6 teaches us that “… we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man able also to bridle his whole body.  So also the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is set among our members, straining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell!”  The principle of prudence, i.e. connoting wisdom and careful consideration of consequences, specifically addresses the use of her tongue.  Miriam, Moses’ sister, serves as a graphic illustration of the impact of a sharp, complaining tongue (Num 12:1-15).  The entire nation of Israel was delayed for seven days because she chose to use her tongue in an inappropriate manner.

The worthy woman’s speech exhibits good judgment and discretion (Col 4:6).  Rather than being too aggressive or domineering, gentleness (Prov 15:1) and compassion characterize her words (Prov 25:1).  She possesses the ability to be kind, yet very firm, as well as the ability to maintain confidences (Prov 11:13).  Truthfulness is evident in her relationships with others (Eph 4:15), and she realizes that what she meditates upon will emerge in her speech (Ps 19:14; Luke 6:45). Within her family relationships, she refuses to defame her husband’s character and speaks with firmness, balanced with kindness and gentleness to her children.  Prior to speaking she asks herself questions that insure the attitude of Proverbs 31:26 (“she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue”) will characterize her conversations.  She inquires:

• Is it kind?
  
• Is it necessary?
  
• Is it true?
  
• Is it gossip? 
  
• Am I defending my own opinion rather than listening to the individual?

Having implemented these criteria for her speech, the worthy woman chooses to make encouragement a part of her lifestyle because it is a spiritual mandate (Heb 10:25).  An act of encouragement inspires others with renewed courage, spirit, and hope.  It affirms individuals for who they are rather than what they do.  Proverbs 25:11 teaches the value of appropriate words.  A myriad of actions can provide encouragement to others, including:

• Bestowing notes and small gifts at unexpected times.
  
• Commenting on desirable character qualities (punctuality, good attitude, tolerance, etc.).
  
• Calling with specific, encouragement-oriented purposes.
  
• Affirming a job well done.
  
• Supporting someone who is hurting.
  
• Choosing to use confrontation in the appropriate manner (Matt 18:15-19) rather than as a Christian way of “telling someone off.”

The worthy woman cultivates a positive, reassuring attitude, knowing that encouragement does not thrive in a negative atmosphere.  She realizes that developing this character quality  takes time and does not anticipate repayment (Luke 6:30-31; 1 Tim 6:17-19).

Next week’s posting is focused on Being Loving.

"Portraying Christian Femininity" by Patricia E. Ennis is from the book Think Biblically edited by John MacArthur with the Master's College Faculty, copyright 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crosswaybooks.org

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.

—PROV 31:25

Being honorable is synonymous with having integrity and is evidenced by others’ high regard or respect for the worthy woman.  She possesses a keen sense of right or wrong, and her moral uprightness is apparent to all.  Several attributes will emerge as the worthy woman assimilates this principle into her life:

• Her outer adorning complements her inward qualities (1 Pet 3:3-4).
  
• She abstains from every appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22).
  
• She possesses strong convictions of right and wrong (Prov 14:12; 16:25; Matt 7:13-14).
  
• The convictions she embraces are based upon biblical principles (Ps 119:11, 105) rather than cultural trends.

If married, the worthy woman’s high standards of behavior make a significant contribution to her husband’s position (Prov 12:4; 18:22; 19:14; 31:23).  She functions as a helpmate (Gen 2:18) and purposes to never be an embarrassment or a hindrance to her husband.
 
The worthy woman acquires a stable, honest reputation.  Strength and honor accompany her business acumen (Prov 31:25).  Desiring to walk worthy of her calling (Eph 4:1-2), she leads a life that brings glory to God (1 Cor 10:31).  Humility, unselfishness, gentleness, mildness, patience, bearing with others, and making allowances for others are characteristic of her godly posture.

The honorable woman has control of her body—it is presented as a living sacrifice to the Lord (Rom 12:1-2).  She refuses to yield her body as an instrument to sin (Rom 6:12-13) and acknowledges that her body belongs to Christ (1 Cor 6:15).  Realizing that her body is a temple literally inhabited by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:15), she chooses to glorify God in her body (1 Cor 6:20).  She becomes a student of her body so that she knows how to control it in honor (1 Thess 4:4) and understands the need for accountability to the body of Christ to maintain her purity (Gal 6:1-2; Jas 5:19-20).

Next week’s posting is focused on Being Prudent.

"Portraying Christian Femininity" by Patricia E. Ennis is from the book Think Biblically edited by John MacArthur with the Master's College Faculty, copyright 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crosswaybooks.org

She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
             —PROV 31:21-22, 27

Putting events, objects or people in order, as well as making suitable and receptive are phrases that describe the principle of preparedness in action.  The worthy woman demonstrates planning and foresight that equip her for unforeseen circumstances.  She acquires adequate provisions for unknown needs rather than living from crisis to crisis.  Concurrent with physical provisions this worthy woman knows the value of being spiritually prepared.  Similar to saving a percentage of each paycheck, she builds a spiritual reserve for challenging times.  The prophet Jeremiah refers to the woman who trusts in the Lord as being prepared in that she will be “like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer 17:7-8).  The heat will come and the drought is certain; however, there is no fear when one is prepared.

Her firm grip on spiritual priorities allows her to be prepared for the future.  Charles Hummel urges his readers to evaluate their priorities daily:

Sometime ago, Simba bullets killed a young man, Dr. Paul Carlson.  In the  providence of God his life’s work was finished.  Most of us will live longer and die more quietly, but when the end comes, what would give us greater joy than being sure that we have finished the work that God gave us to do?  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ makes this fulfillment possible.  He has promised deliverance from sin and the power to serve God in the tasks of His choice.  The way is clear.  If we continue in the world of our Lord, we are truly his disciples.  And he will free us from the tyranny of the urgent, free us to do the important, which is the will of God.ⁱ

The worthy woman will refuse to allow the urgent to take the place of the important in her life.

Next week’s posting is focused on Being Honorable.

ⁱ Charles Hummel, Tyranny of the Urgent  (Downers Grove, IL:  IVP, 1967), 12-15.

"Portraying Christian Femininity" by Patricia E. Ennis is from the book Think Biblically edited by John MacArthur with the Master's College Faculty, copyright 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crosswaybooks.org