Women in the church often look towards Proverbs 31 for an example of living a Godly life as a woman and more specifically as a wife but this text certainly applies to single women and young women as well. Verses 10-31 describe a woman who fears the Lord. To be honest the woman in these verses sounds like superwoman to me! But I will get more into that in a moment. Lets start with the beginning.
The first verse in Proverbs 31 states that this was and oracle that King Lemuel's mother taught him. Many believe that Lemuel was King Solomon. Lemuel means belonging to God and is considered a symbolic name of Solomon. So there is just a little background for you. Now the word oracle is not one you hear everyday. In fact I'm pretty sure I have never heard anyone say that.
Except maybe in a sermon...
But out of a Biblical context? no.
According to dictionary.com the word oracle means "a person who delivers authoritative, wise, or highly regarded and influential pronouncements."
So this really starts out with a little shout of "HEY! what she has to say is important!" Right? Also we should take into consideration that King Solomon's mother was Bathsheba.
Remember Bathsheba?
She was the woman who was bathing on the roof of her house (sounds crazy, I know. But that was normal, practical, and culturally acceptable.) when King David, who was supposed to be at war, saw her. He was struck by her beauty that he had her brought to him and he seduced her. (I'm thinking I may need to do a David blog post soon!) Well, then he finds out that she becomes pregnant with him! Woops! Right? Well Bathsheba's husband was a soldier in King David's army. To make a long story short, King David eventually had that man killed.
So the woman who teaches her son this oracle has been through a lot, wouldn't you say? I am sure she learned much through her life and gained much wisdom from her experiences. So this isn't just coming from anyone. It is coming from a woman who has seen a lot.
In the first nine verses she gives her son some wise words about what to do and what not to do. Understandably. But here is the part I am really trying to get to, verses 10-31, the woman who fears the Lord.
Bathsheba is explaining the kind of wife Solomon should find.
"She is far more precious than jewels.(verse 10)"
once again. I think she wants him to find superwoman. But I nonetheless, it goes on to describe a woman her husband can trust, she is a helper to him, she is a hard worker, and she is wise and educated. She provides for her household, and not just as in she does the grocery shopping and gets the kinds ready for school in the morning. She is also going out and selling the things she has made and investing in a field! (Most women today probably wouldn't invest in a field. But hey! If it works, go for it! haha!) My point is she is not simply a woman who stays at home. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a stay at home mom! I consider it the single most difficult job ever! But I have seen churches that believe that all women should stay at home and solely depend upon their husband for finances. I don't think that is what God calls every woman to. If that is what God has called you to then I think that is wonderful! And maybe one day that will be my role. I honestly have no idea! But I think women should be able to work if the need arises. Proverbs 31 does not depict a woman who is unable to step up when a need arises or is only able to live through her husband.
Of course, I am still in high school so I understand that my writing about marriage may put me on shaky ground with some of my readers. I understand that I have no first hand experience on this subject! So feel free to correct me! :)
I think that a woman should be able to work just as the man. The Bible clearly states that the man should be the head of the household. I concur. Men and women were created so differently! But not one better than the other. I believe the differences complement one another. That is why they are made to be side by side. But God calls men to be the leaders and protectors. But a wife at her mans side should be able to help him!
I do come at this from the perspective of a very independent person. So I personally find it very hard to imagine myself one day not working. I got my first "job" at nine. I was a mothers helper for a family friend. I would clean, cook, help her kids with homework, or whatever needed to be done. I wouldn't know what to do with myself without some sort of work! Even if is simply volunteer!
I need something to do with my self! haha! :)
I also want to point out that these verses are written to her son to find this woman. This woman had to already have these virtues before she got married. He was to seek this woman out! Then she could be a wife with those virtues. But he wasn't to just find some lady he thought was pretty and when they got married she would somehow magically become this woman who fears the Lord! No! She needed to be seeking these virtues and seeking her Lord long before Solomon ever came along!
If you are a woman who thinks that the fact that you are not married means that this passage does not apply to you then I am sorry to say you are sooooo mistaken. The fact that you and I are unmarried means it applies to us more than anything! We should be striving to be this woman! We should be hard workers and women that people can trust and work to grow in all of her virtues and most of all grow in our God! Because here's the deal, 93% of people end up married. Yes, there is that 7%. God didn't call everyone to marriage. Goodness, Jesus, God's own son never married! And Paul! He was single his whole life too! (But really! With the life Paul lived I don't know a woman who could put up with that! A wreck of the nerves Paul would be as a husband! Always going off preaching, getting persecuted, stranded on islands, put in prison! My word! That would turn any wife into a nervous wreck! haha!)
So my point is there is much to gain from this passage. No matter who you are or what stage of life you are in and that it is not against the Bible for a woman to work outside of the home.
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