(This is the second part of the study on Proverbs 31. Part 1 is available HERE: http://www.biblicalfamilies.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3166
Responsibilities of the Ideal Wife
Some women (and an even greater number of men) seem to think that the world of the wife is exceedingly small, restricted largely to dirty dishes and diapers. It is not too surprising that many wives have felt frustrated in their role as wife and mother. Is their ministry confined only to doing the housework? Is their world defined by the walls of their home? Proverbs 31 widens the horizon of what a godly wife and mother ought to be encouraged to do, if she is both able and willing. Let us consider some of the spheres of activity in which the ideal wife moves freely and confidently.
1. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A PURCHASING AGENT FOR THE FAMILY.
She looks for wool and flax, And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar (vv. 13-14).
We all know how much a family consumes. The ideal wife contributes to the family by purchasing the necessities of the family. She looks, I assume, for the highest quality at the lowest price. She does not buy her groceries on the spur of the moment at the Seven-Eleven store on the corner, but she searches out the finest of goods, going some distance, if necessary, to get both quality and economy.
2. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A MANAGER. She is a capable leader and administrator.
She rises also while it is still night, And gives food to her household, And portions (or, prescribed tasks, margin, NASB) to her maidens (v. 15).
She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness (v. 27).
3. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A PROVIDER OF INCOME. There are numerous jokes about the wife who grabs for her husband’s wallet when payday comes around. The ideal wife may reach for her husband’s wallet, but it is to put something into it, not take something out. This woman contributes to the family finances.
She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard (v. 16).
She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night (v. 18).
I assume that it is at least partly out of the income of the woman of Proverbs 31 that her family’s needs are met. For example, she purchases material and provides her family with clothing that is both functional (warm, lasting) and tasteful, enhancing the appearance of the wearer.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet (v. 21).
There is some discussion about the word “scarlet” here.35 If this is indeed the term intended by the author, the emphasis would be on the expensiveness of the clothing. If it is a word which means something like “double,” the stress would be on the warmth of these clothes. I think the clothing she provides for her family as being both suitably elegant and functionally warm.
In addition to clothing her family, she also makes fine garments for herself. I believe this is not to indulge herself as much as it is to enhance the standing of her husband. Her attire should be appropriate for one whose family is prosperous and whose husband is influential in the community.
She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple (v. 22).
4. THE IDEAL WIFE IS AN INVESTOR. Not only does this noble woman produce income to enhance the family finances, she also invests some of this money in order to gain additional income.
She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard (v. 16).
The traditional stereotype is that the “pretty little woman” has no brains for business. How could she possibly understand the stock market, or have a grasp of the pros and cons of buying gold or real estate? But this woman did make investments, and it is obvious that she did well at it.
5. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A PRODUCER, A MANUFACTURER OF GOODS.
She makes garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen (v. 24).
While it may be that she herself makes all that she sells to the tradesmen, I am inclined to think that her business may have grown to the point where she utilized employees in this manufacturing venture. In this case, what may have begun as a small undertaking may have grown into a larger business, supervised by this incredible woman.
6. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A CHARITABLE PROVIDER. The income of the godly wife is used for a variety of purposes. Some is reinvested, much is spent in providing for family needs, but a generous portion is given to the poor.
She extends her hand to the poor; And stretches out her hands to the needy (v. 20).
7. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A TEACHER.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (v. 26).
Much, perhaps most, of the teaching of the ideal wife would be directed to her children. An example of this kind of teaching is found in the first 9 verses of chapter 31. Here the godly mother of King Lemuel (v. 1) instructs her son concerning those things which would hinder a godly reign. But the teaching of the ideal wife may very well have extended beyond her household, especially to other women in the community who could gain from her wisdom.37
8. THE IDEAL WIFE PROMOTES HER HUSBAND’S STANDING AND LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land (v. 23).
This means that she actively promotes and enhances her husband's standing not only as head of the home as a patriarch, but also promotes him to others. How many wives do you know actively doing that?
I have a third part, just for husbands. So stay tuned.
Blessings,
Doc
Responsibilities of the Ideal Wife
Some women (and an even greater number of men) seem to think that the world of the wife is exceedingly small, restricted largely to dirty dishes and diapers. It is not too surprising that many wives have felt frustrated in their role as wife and mother. Is their ministry confined only to doing the housework? Is their world defined by the walls of their home? Proverbs 31 widens the horizon of what a godly wife and mother ought to be encouraged to do, if she is both able and willing. Let us consider some of the spheres of activity in which the ideal wife moves freely and confidently.
1. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A PURCHASING AGENT FOR THE FAMILY.
She looks for wool and flax, And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar (vv. 13-14).
We all know how much a family consumes. The ideal wife contributes to the family by purchasing the necessities of the family. She looks, I assume, for the highest quality at the lowest price. She does not buy her groceries on the spur of the moment at the Seven-Eleven store on the corner, but she searches out the finest of goods, going some distance, if necessary, to get both quality and economy.
2. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A MANAGER. She is a capable leader and administrator.
She rises also while it is still night, And gives food to her household, And portions (or, prescribed tasks, margin, NASB) to her maidens (v. 15).
She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness (v. 27).
3. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A PROVIDER OF INCOME. There are numerous jokes about the wife who grabs for her husband’s wallet when payday comes around. The ideal wife may reach for her husband’s wallet, but it is to put something into it, not take something out. This woman contributes to the family finances.
She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard (v. 16).
She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night (v. 18).
I assume that it is at least partly out of the income of the woman of Proverbs 31 that her family’s needs are met. For example, she purchases material and provides her family with clothing that is both functional (warm, lasting) and tasteful, enhancing the appearance of the wearer.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet (v. 21).
There is some discussion about the word “scarlet” here.35 If this is indeed the term intended by the author, the emphasis would be on the expensiveness of the clothing. If it is a word which means something like “double,” the stress would be on the warmth of these clothes. I think the clothing she provides for her family as being both suitably elegant and functionally warm.
In addition to clothing her family, she also makes fine garments for herself. I believe this is not to indulge herself as much as it is to enhance the standing of her husband. Her attire should be appropriate for one whose family is prosperous and whose husband is influential in the community.
She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple (v. 22).
4. THE IDEAL WIFE IS AN INVESTOR. Not only does this noble woman produce income to enhance the family finances, she also invests some of this money in order to gain additional income.
She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard (v. 16).
The traditional stereotype is that the “pretty little woman” has no brains for business. How could she possibly understand the stock market, or have a grasp of the pros and cons of buying gold or real estate? But this woman did make investments, and it is obvious that she did well at it.
5. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A PRODUCER, A MANUFACTURER OF GOODS.
She makes garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen (v. 24).
While it may be that she herself makes all that she sells to the tradesmen, I am inclined to think that her business may have grown to the point where she utilized employees in this manufacturing venture. In this case, what may have begun as a small undertaking may have grown into a larger business, supervised by this incredible woman.
6. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A CHARITABLE PROVIDER. The income of the godly wife is used for a variety of purposes. Some is reinvested, much is spent in providing for family needs, but a generous portion is given to the poor.
She extends her hand to the poor; And stretches out her hands to the needy (v. 20).
7. THE IDEAL WIFE IS A TEACHER.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (v. 26).
Much, perhaps most, of the teaching of the ideal wife would be directed to her children. An example of this kind of teaching is found in the first 9 verses of chapter 31. Here the godly mother of King Lemuel (v. 1) instructs her son concerning those things which would hinder a godly reign. But the teaching of the ideal wife may very well have extended beyond her household, especially to other women in the community who could gain from her wisdom.37
8. THE IDEAL WIFE PROMOTES HER HUSBAND’S STANDING AND LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land (v. 23).
This means that she actively promotes and enhances her husband's standing not only as head of the home as a patriarch, but also promotes him to others. How many wives do you know actively doing that?
I have a third part, just for husbands. So stay tuned.
Blessings,
Doc