Proverbs 31

Beautiful

Somewhere in time, I am not sure when, about 2500 BC King Lemuel wrote Proverbs 31.  Proverbs 31 details the perfect woman.  I don’t know if you have read this lately, but it details superwoman.  Let’s face it, no woman can be all these things.  What amazed me though, as it goes through all the attributes of the perfect woman, it never mentions that she is pretty or skinny or anything else.    If you read magazines or watch television or movies, you may get the impression that external beauty is the most important thing, but it really isn’t. 

Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Doesn’t that give you the impression that God values people differently than the world does?    Let me give you another verse to prove my point.

1 Samuel 16:7b  “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Lasting beauty is found in the condition of the heart, not in the condition of the figure or face.  I know so many beautiful women of all ages and the one thing they have in common is that the beauty inside, the beauty of character outweighs the external beauty that is seen.   Even on my really pretty friends and family, the beauty of her character surpasses what can be easily seen.

So here is the Proverbs 31 for the modern woman.

She is a hard worker.  When she is working outside the home, she is doing her best for her employer.

When she is a homemaker, she is not idol. She searches for bargains, she volunteers where needed.

She helps her children with school work, even when she is tired herself.

If her child needs something, she will move heaven and earth to make sure they get what they need.

She loves her family and does the best for them. She considers their needs above her own more often than not.   She works to take care of them and provide them with a warm and welcoming home.

She works with honor and integrity in everything she does.  She is not lazy, she purposefully has to set aside times to rest to keep from over doing.

Her speech is full of wisdom.  When you get advice from her, you know it is good advice.   

She is generous to others.  She has a giving spirit and helps were she can. 

People envy her husband because his wife is such a treasure.   When the husband leaves, they count him a fool for giving up such a good woman.  When she is single, people wonder why some smart man has not proposed yet.

Her beauty is eternal.  It is not affected by fad or fashion. It comes from within and radiates out as she chooses to love others. 

She deserves honor and praise, but she does not need it because she knows she is a treasure to her creator.

To all the women, I know and love, this one is for you.  I know I have part of you in my Proverbs for the modern woman.

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7PL77PNX

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