We have all read this verse; indeed, I am sure this whole chapter, many times. Have you ever stopped to wonder exactly what King Lemuel's (Solomon's) mother was talking about? What is virtue? What is a ruby? Was this an insult, a generalization of all women or an impossible standard to meet, as I have read in some women's magazines?
First of all, I believe there is a reason for all scripture because the Bible says,
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16
Solomon was not rambling here in Proverbs. God inspired him to write this for a reason.
I believe God wanted us to know how He felt about women.
We have all heard feminists accusing God and/or the Judeo-Christian religion of being anti-woman, instruments of suppression and abuse. This scripture refutes that idea.
Neither does it worship women, as many feminists do, and make them better than men just because they are women.
It gives us an attainable goal to reach for; not necessarily an easy one to obtain, but obtainable none-the-less.
It also gives us a picture of our value in God's eyes.
The name "ruby" is derived from the Latin word for red, rubra. But ruby-red is not just any old everyday color. Ruby-red is a dark, deep red. It stands for blood (life) and fire (warmth, passion). Virtuous women are the life and warmth of their families. As the body can't live without blood to carry nutrients and oxygen to the different parts of the body, so the home cannot live- not really live- without a woman to nourish it and give it the breath of life.
Have you ever been in a home or business that you could tell was decorated by a man? There is usually a certain indefinable warmth that is lacking in such a place. A woman's touch is the fire of life in a home.
We all know that most men's greatest passion is their woman. The passion that a woman brings to a man has inspired:
- Great poetry,
- Music,
- Literature,
- Paintings,
- Sculpture, and
- Acts of heroism.
Ronald Regan once said,
“If not for women, men would still be running around in animal skins and wielding clubs.”
I believe he was right. We are the reason for life for many men: the reason for working and trying.
Rubies have long been considered one of the most valuable of all gemstones. They are beautiful, hard (second only to diamonds in hardness), brilliant, and rare.
Godly, virtuous women are beautiful in His eyes, tough in their faith in God's care, shinning in their witness of the love of Christ, and unfortunately, all too rare.
"For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
God doesn't really care how pretty your face is. He cares how pretty your heart is. I pray regularly for all my children to be beautiful in His eyes.
What is God's beauty regimen?
Seek to be a virtuous woman. Then you will be more beautiful than a ruby.
A ruby is hard. This means it is a tough job to break one. You can't just toss it on the floor and break it apart. It takes work.
How hard are you? Can the devil just toss you around and make you shatter? Or do you know what the Bible says and stand fast by it no matter what?
A woman should be like a chocolate covered peanut; soft on the outside but hard on the inside. We should be feminine on the outside but hard as a ruby (that is, harder than steel) in our faith in God.
A ruby is brilliant. This doesn't mean it can pass the SAT test with a perfect score, though I do believe we should strive to build our intelligence.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:" Psalms 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of The Holy is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
God wants us to use and build on everything He has given us, including our brains.
"...thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21
We should be trying to increase our intelligence by starting with God's Word.
But brilliant in terms of a ruby means it shines out.
We should have the love of God shining out in our every action.
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17
Jesus should be a light that glows from you out to the world, including the world in your own home.
The rareness of a top quality ruby makes it more valuable than a diamond. It is known as the “King of Gemstones” to many. An 8x6mm (that is much smaller than the tip of your pinky), 1.8 ct stone just sold for $137.07; and God said a virtuous woman is worth MORE than a ruby.
A ruby is made of a combination of aluminum oxide and chrome. This is interesting. These are relatively common minerals, yet when combined under the right conditions, they create this valuable stone.
God made us out of dirt, born to common humans. There is nothing special in our chemical make-up. Yet, like the ruby, we are valuable beyond comparison, if we are virtuous.
So what is a virtuous woman?
The original 1828 Webster's dictionary says;VIR'TUOUS, adjective.
1. Morally good; acting in conformity to the moral law; practicing the moral duties, and abstaining from vice; as “a virtuous man.”
2. Being in conformity to the moral or divine law; as “a virtuous action;” “a virtuous life.” The mere performance of virtuous actions does not denominate an agent virtuous.
3. Chaste; applied to women.
Virtue means acting in conformity to the moral law; practicing the moral duties; and abstaining from vice. So this scripture reads, in definition,
"Who can find a woman who acts in conformity to moral law, performs her moral duties, and abstains from vice? Her worth is far more than the most precious of gemstones."
This does not sound like the opinion of a God who hates women or makes light of their role in the world. This sounds like a God who loves His precious daughters very much. One who values their contribution to society more than- well- more than rubies.
Where do you find these moral laws that we are to obey?
In the Bible. That is why God gave It to us; so we would have His guidance and know what is moral and what is not.
You need to read your Bible regularly. You need to know what God says to you.
“Abstaining from vice;"
VICE, noun. [L. vitium.] .
4. Properly, a spot or defect; a fault; a blemish; as “the vices of a political constitution.”
5. In ethics, any voluntary action or course of conduct which deviates from the rules of moral rectitude, or from the plain rules of propriety; any moral unfitness of conduct, either from defect of duty, or from the transgression of known principles of rectitude. Vice differs from crime, in being less enormous. We never call murder or robbery a vice; but every act of intemperance, all falsehood, duplicity, deception, lewdness and the like, is a vice. The excessive indulgence of passions and appetites which in themselves are innocent is a vice. The smoking of tobacco and the taking of snuff, may in certain cases be innocent and even useful (Note from Betty: scientific knowledge of tobacco's harm had not yet been discovered in 1828 and it was believed to aid the lungs against disease), but these practices may be carried to such an excess as to become vices. This word is also used to denote a habit of transgressing; as “a life of vice.” Vice is rarely a solitary invader; it usually brings with it a frightful train of followers.
6. Depravity or corruption of manners; as an age of vice.
A virtuous woman abstains from vice. She abstains from "deviating from the rules of moral rectitude (conduct) or from the plain rules of propriety."
In other words, she acts like a lady and doesn't let anything (such as habits) rule her life. She rules it herself for God's glory.
How do you feel about your womanhood?
Do you hate being a woman? Do you wish you were a man? I have met many women that I think do. I recently read a wonderful way of putting womanhood into perspective:"A bird could complain that it is not a turtle. It could gripe about its heavy wings, that it doesn't have four legs to balance on, that it is not as secure as a turtle in his nice safe shell. But this is not the attitude a bird should have. A bird should thank God for making her a bird, and spread her wings and fly." Elizabeth Elliot, Let Me Be a Woman.
Thank God for making you a woman. He has a special job for you that you could not do as a man: something only a woman could accomplish.
I don't know what your special job is. It is different for each and every one of us. I only know that God gave you everything you need to accomplish that job- that calling- including your womanhood.
So don't buy into the "Poor me. I am a female and can never do what a man can, am only valuable if I am acting like a man" mentality.
Thank God for making you a woman, spread you wings, and fly.
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