That intimidating job description. Many Christian women aspire to be the wife of noble character. We wish children and husband always had praise for us on their tongue. We wish we even deserved such praise.
Proverbs 31
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Zondervan NIV
Alas, it’s easy to write off this job description as obsolete because we don’t select wool and flax these days. We don’t consider a field and buy it and plant a vineyard. It’s a beautiful job description, and yet we throw it away as only applying to biblical times.
But it’s a beautiful job description. It’s a beautiful assignment. It’s a beautiful way to govern our time. I believe it’s a beautiful template to write our own modern job description. Let’s give it a whirl, shall we?
Personally for me, the first modification happens right in the title. A wife. I was cast off as a wife. Twice! I cannot pursue a job description as a wife when I was unwanted by two husbands and now cannot remarry without making my new man an adulterer. I wonder, if I succeeded at being that wife of noble character, would I not have been cast off? Would I still be a wife? Oh well. All I can handle is the now.
Here is an excellent Bible activity. Write the entire passage and change out things that cannot apply to you to things that you can actually aspire to.
Here is my personalized adaptation of the Proverbs 31 Woman.
Proverbs 31
10 A [woman] of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her [children have] full confidence in her and [lack] nothing of value.
12 She brings [them] good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects [business supplies] and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the [publishers], [selling] her [content worldwide].
15 She gets up while it is still night; she [writes prayers] for her [children, family, friends].
16 She considers [an academic resource] and buys it; out of her earnings she [builds a blog].
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her [publication] is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the [mouse] and [works the keyboard] with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When [employers restructure], she has no fear for her [children]; for [both] of them are [smart workers].
22 She [keeps her home tidy]; she is clothed in [modest elegance].
23 Her [children are] respected at [their workplaces], where [they take their seats] among the [leaders] of the [company].
24 She makes [publications] and sells them, and supplies the merchants with [advertising].
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her [ex-husbands] also, and [they praise] her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Amy Howard Personal Aspiration Version
Father, I want to be this woman. Would that please you? Help me daily to cleanse my heart and habits to become holy and strong in your sight.
In Jesus’ name, I pray,
Amen