May 31, 2021
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 ESV
The Proverbs 31 Woman (as titled for this closing passage) is not intended to be prescriptive but descriptive of the ideal wife. But her profile should not be limited to the female gender. Given the high standard of conduct that Jesus outlined from the Sermon on the Mount and elsewhere, her attributes could easily be applied to an ideal husband.
So how should we respond to this seemingly unattainable goal? It should drive us closer to God’s grace. But how do we appropriate grace? Verse 30 provides a clue. The first half of the verse describes a woman who is more concerned about her outward appearance (which steals our grace), while the second addresses one who fears and reveres God (which immerses us in his grace). So when others take us for granted, our fear of the Lord motivates us to carry on with our good works, trusting that words of praise (affirmation and encouragement) will come our way when we most need them.
Father God, grant us grace in serving you through others, trusting that praise will come when we need it. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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