Last time we looked at the character of Ruth and her submissive and obedient behaviour, her hard working and uncomplaining nature, her love for others and God and where these qualities took her through the path of her life.
When I think of Ruth I naturally think too of the Proverbs 31 woman. Although the Proverbs woman seems to be too good to be true, she is the epitome of what it means to be a Godly woman and a submissive wife. She is a helpmeet to her husband, but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t capable, busy, productive and fulfilled. She blesses her husband and her family by being orderly, organised and thrifty. She does everything she can to take care of her husband, her children and her household.
‘Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain, she does him good and not evil all the days of her life.’ Proverbs 31 v 10 – 12
Faithful, constant, dependable, putting her husband’s needs above her own, seeking every way she can to bless him, in short, loving him and serving him with all her heart. We can all be like that, whatever our circumstances. It’s a choice!
She, however is no doormat, she is an absolute asset to her husband. Notice in verse 26 it says, ‘she opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness.’ Look at Titus 2 v 1 – 5 again, and let us apply it to ourselves.
We who are older should be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that we should admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to our own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Can you see the link between this passage and the Proverbs woman?
Can you see how this biblical advice is totally opposite to the world’s view?
As women God calls us to be well equipped and able, otherwise we cannot pass these qualities on to the younger women. How can we be an example to others if we are not living a Godly life, if we are not practicing these qualities ourselves? Also young women, you will not be young forever and so it is your responsibility to take the admonition from the older women on board and prayerfully consider what they say.
If any of us are naggers, moaners and complainers, if we want to wear the trousers and take control of our husbands, or if we are lazy and indolent and expect our men to do everything for us, how can we possibly be in the right place to help other women? We cannot just be spiritual and know all the right words to say, we have to be able to demonstrate that we put these words into practice in our own lives.
We should be continually asking God for wisdom in all our relationships so that we might be kind to others. Otherwise we might just come over as bossy and controlling. We should be discreet and careful in our speech and actions. It is too easy to gossip or criticise and so cause untold damage thereby.
We should be chaste. That means dressing modestly and not as women of the world with their low slung tops and skirts around their thighs. If a top is too low wear it with a camisole, or throw it away, if a skirt is too short wear it over thick tights, or throw it away. Be modest, the world is watching. We don’t want to be accused of putting temptation before men, the Godly woman will never do that.
We should be thoughtful how we run our houses, keeping them clean and tidy, making them a place that our family is glad to live in, a home, a place of safety and sanctuary. We should be hospitable, always ready to welcome friends and family with a smile on our faces, always having cake in the tin, tea at the ready, arms ready to embrace and love.
Being a Godly woman means so much more than just knowing scripture and saying the right things. Godliness should be seen in every area of our lives. Being a woman after God’s own heart means making moment by moment choices, and doing everything as unto the Lord. We need to be aware that there is a warning attached to all this, did you notice it?
‘That the word of God may not be blasphemed.’
You see if we do not live up to these qualities, then we are guilty of blaspheming the word of God, that is, taking the word of God in vain, not living up to the standards He has set before us, and yet claiming to do so. In fact claiming to be something that we are not. That is the danger of preaching at people about how they should be, but not living that way ourselves. God takes the way we live very seriously, and we must be aware of this and practice what we preach, or be seen as being hypocrites like the Pharisees who accused Jesus of being from Satan, when in fact it was they who were whited sepulchres full of dead men’s bones, it was they who were being used by the enemy. Jesus was guiltless of their accusations. What about ourselves?
May God cause us to be honest with ourselves and the way we live our lives. May we humble ourselves before the cross and confess our sin, for He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Love and blessings,
Linda
Next time: Jezebel, the epitome of evil!
