The Virtuous Woman
Scripture:
Proverbs 31:10-31 “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Introduction:
 We all love to hear about the virtuous woman. Every man wants to marry a virtuous woman and have a virtuous woman for a wife. These scriptures share the virtues that most women would like said about them, even if the words are not true in regard to their life. I would like to apply these truths to the highest example of womanhood that exists. She is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the mother of us all (Galatians 4:26). In New Testament scripture, the spiritual Jerusalem is a reference to the Church. The Church is made up of individuals who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Church is betrothed to Christ and is being prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Ephesians 5:25-26) without spot, wrinkle or blemish. If the world is to see the Church as the virtuous woman that she is, we, as individual members must allow the Holy Spirit to work these virtues into our lives.

1. Virtuous means strength, efficiency or ability. The virtuous woman is a woman of moral strength and character.
A. Moses was instructed by Jethro to select able men (same phrase as found in Proverbs 31:10)
B. Exodus 18:21 “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness”
C. A virtuous person, man or woman, is one who fears God, loves truth and hates sin.

2. Her price is far above rubies.
A. This person is rare indeed and precious to find, considered to be of great worth and value.
B. A light in darkness is of great value and worth when trying to find one’s way in difficult and troubling times.
C. Salt is in great demand as an agent of preservation.
D. A city set on a hill speaks of safety and protection, a place of enlightenment where successful commerce is carried on.
E. Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
3. Her husband trusts in her for two very good reasons.
A. He has no need of spoil (that which he obtains through victorious battle) because she increases his resources by her lifestyle and desire to bring benefit to her household.
B. She does him good and not evil. Her desire is only to him and what will make him a great man in the city.
C. In other words, she is not so concerned with her own position, needs, advancement or reputation but only wants to do what pleases him.
D. Jesus demonstrated the satisfaction of life is found in serving the Lord rather than self. Real satisfaction comes with ministry to enlarge the Kingdom of God.
John 4:34-35 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

4. All the days of her life. This is consistency, not up one day and down the next.

5. She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands.
A. Wool and flax is that which is used to provide clothing and many items made of cloth that improve the quality of life.
B. A virtuous person is one involved in the care and spiritual advancement of those in the household (church).
C. The virtuous do this because they love God and love His people. They take great delight in ministry and sharing the life of God.
Romans 1:9-11 “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established”

6. Like a merchant ship, bringing food from afar. These are people that stay in touch with heaven in order to have the bread of life to distribute to the spiritually hungry.
A. Arising early while yet night indicates that getting a word from God takes priority over everything else.
B. Getting a word from God is more easily accomplished when we avoid the distractions of life.
C. A word from God is the bread that nourishes the spirit. How do we give a word in due season if we don’t get a word?
Matthew 5:4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

7. The virtuous woman considers a field, buys it and plants a vineyard.
A. Things are not done haphazardly without careful consideration.
B. Prayer goes into every decision that is made in regard to finding our proper place of ministry so that we can effectively advance the Kingdom of Heaven.
C. It’s good to strategize and lay plans after, not before, diligent prayer has gone forth regarding any new area of ministry.
D. The virtuous person will always count the cost so they will not be discouraged later and abandon the wo
Luke 14:27-30 “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

8. The virtuous person recognizes the value of their ministry and refuses to allow the darkness to overpower their work. They live as children of the day and let their light shine continually.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

9. The virtuous person stretches out his hand to the poor. She does not close her eyes and ears to the needy that are all around her.
A. Needy people come in many forms. Some are financially needy, some are emotionally needy, but all are spiritually needy.
B. The virtuous person is a compassionate person desiring to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those around them.
C. The virtuous person is a merciful person.

10. The virtuous woman opens her mouth with wisdom and speaks with kindness.
A. Kingdom speech is royal speech. It does not lower itself to demeaning and critical words.
B. Criticism is avoided because it does not edify (build up) but destroys (tears down).
C. Wisdom leads the virtuous person to praise, encourage and share with others in a way that makes them want to know the Jesus that we serve.
D. The virtuous person wants only to speak words that please the Father and advance the Kingdom.
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”