Our Priorities ... as Women

God gave Solomon, and us by extension, an outline for godly women to strive toward. We find this outline in the book of Proverbs, chapter 31, and verses 10-31. So I will quote it here from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. But I will also add a modern point of reference for our understanding. Let’s get started!  

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.>

What man among us can find an intelligent, honorable, righteous and hardworking wife? For she is far more valuable than gold, platinum or precious gems.

The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

Her husband trusts her with his whole being. He confidently relies on her. He believes in her steadfastly, so that he has no lack of honestly earned wealth, nor need for dishonest gain.

She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop, process it].

She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].

From the moment their life together begins, she comforts and encourages him. She only does good things for him and to him all the days of her life. She searches for and wisely purchases the materials to craft fabrics for her family’s needs. She does this much as a business owner handles obtaining their inventory; stocking her pantries from many outlets so as to get the best values for her purchases.

She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

To accomplish all she has need of, she awakes before daylight in order to seek God’s face and instruct her household in spiritual truths, then gives her children – and staff, if included in her household – their chores and assignments for the day.

She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

She weighs all of the facts before making any large purchases. When she is convinced that the price, and all circumstances involving it, are right, she will expend the funds on a plot of land. From her savings and profits, she plants a beautiful and fruitful garden to bring her and the family joy, as well as produce.

She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

She clothes herself in God’s strength – mental, physical and spiritual fitness for her God-given tasks – thus being amply prepared for all that lies ahead.

She knows that all that she accomplishes is good in God’s sight, for she has included Him in all that she does. Thus, she is strengthened in body and soul so that, if the need arises for occasional sleepless nights on behalf of her household, she is prepared. Her strength does not waver and God’s light within her soul does not dim with worry, fear, distrust, doubt, sorrow or distress.

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

She is never idle. In all that she does, she has a heart of ministry and hospitality which she uses to help the poor and needy, whether in mind, body or spirit.

She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

She has no fear of cold for her family, for she has filled the closets with warm garments to meet their needs. She is skilled in many arts and crafts, so much so that she can make blankets, pillows, and rugs to add color and fashion to her home and her family’s wardrobe. And all of the materials she uses are of the best quality for their appointed uses.

Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

Her husband is known throughout the community because of her care for their home and family interests. She is never idle. Even in her leisure time, she crafts items to sell from her home based/web-based business enterprises.

Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

She is robed in Godly strength and dignity. Her position in home, church, and community are secure, thus she is able to rejoice in what the future holds for her family. She knows that they are all prepared, no matter what lies ahead.

She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

She speaks skillfully, using the wisdom God has given her. His word is ever on her tongue to give counsel and instruction to those in need of it.

She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

She makes sure that all in her home is in readiness for whatever may come. She does not fill it – or herself – with idleness of any kind, such as gossip, discontentment, or self-pity, for these things are of no use to her.

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

She is truly and completely blessed. Her children speak her praises, as does her husband. He boasts with a godly pride of her accomplishments by saying, ‘many a man’s daughters have done well in their righteous pursuits and their character stands firmly grounded in goodness, but you have surpassed them all.

Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

Desirability and poise can be used to deceive, and outward beauty is empty in that it is short-lived. But a woman who loves and reverently fears the Lord, she is to be praised!

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

Give this lady the honor she is due for her accomplishments and let the work of her hands be what brings her the praise of men and women throughout the church and in her community!

OK, laid out like this, this passage is a little hard to comprehend. So let me simplify.

Our hardworking, godly P.E.A.R.L. of Great Price is:

Valuable

Trustworthy

Seeks God's face before she starts into the day's activities

Leans on God for her strength and the source of her character,

Includes Him is all that she does

Puts her husband's needs ahead of her own and those of the family

She is educated and very skillful, thus she is also ready for all situations.

Makes wise purchases and decisions

Instructs her children (and staff) giving them chores and assignments

Weighs all of the facts in making decisions

Makes a profit and saves funds for a rainy day

Knows that her household is well prepared for anything

And she is completely blessed.

As you can see, I have rearranged this list a bit, placing them in a more cohesive order.

So following this God-given outline, we can see His list of priorities for a Godly woman. I know that this list presupposes that all women will be married and raise families. This was God’s design, His requirement for the survival of mankind. So you may be thinking how does this passage of scripture apply to me as a single woman. It applies in exactly the same way!

Single women still have to:

Be trustworthy.

Seek God's face before she starts into the day's activities.

Lean on God for her strength and the source of her character.

Include Him is all that she does.

Put the needs of her father’s household, if she lives at home, ahead of her own needs and desires. If she isn’t living at home, she gives this accountability to her pastor in place of husband or father.

Is educated and very skillful, thus she is ready for all situations.

Makes wise purchases and decisions.

Instructs her “spiritual children” – or disciples – (and staff) giving them assignments.

Weighs all of the facts when making decisions.

Makes a profit and saves for a rainy day.

Knows that she and her disciples are well prepared for anything.

And thus she IS completely blessed!

After putting all of this down, I see that I could have started with the Acts 1:8 passage, it is even simpler that this, for it says:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Remember how we broke this down before? God, home and family, church, community then on into the world wherever He may lead.

Whether we are married or single our priorities remain the same in Christ. They are both simple and direct, yet also deep rich, and very intense when you start to put them all into their proper place and perspective. God made a woman’s role in the family and in the church identical for all women. It matters not how we see it, for He is our Intelligent Creator and the Father of us all. It is His design, His plan we must follow and not our own. But take heart, you CAN do this. Start now and seek His face along the way and often. Then you will this same have the confidence I have in you. For you are His daughter. Created in His image, to bring Him glory in and by all that you do

We here at Ministry of Mom are here to walk beside and help you along the way … all you have to do is ask.