A good woman is priceless! Nonetheless, Salary.com recently tried to appraise the financial value of a stay-at-home mom. Based on the market value of the skills she needs and uses daily, their analysis estimated that her annual salary should be $184,820.
But, according to Proverbs 31, her inward character is even more valuable than outward factors. We need to understand that the “wife of noble character”—or literally, “a woman of valor” (v. 10)—is an ideal, not an individual person. The climax of the description is found in today’s verse: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v. 30). This brings the Book of Proverbs full circle from the first chapter (1:7).
What virtues and actions are associated with her fear of the Lord? She works hard (vv. 13–15, 17, 19, 27), plans wisely (and so “can laugh at the days to come” because she’s not anxious, v. 25), and has good business sense (vv. 16, 18, 24). She’s strong (v. 17), dignified (v. 25), and wise (v. 26). She’s generous toward the poor (v. 20; Prov. 14:31). She takes good care of her family (vv. 15, 21–22, 27), including teaching her children and guiding them toward maturity (v. 26). She supports her husband and he in turn has full confidence in her (vv. 11–12). He’s respected in the community, in part because of her (v. 23). She, too, is respected in the community and praised by her family (vv. 28, 31).
Such a woman’s outward actions flow from her inward virtues, and these in turn flow from her overall orientation of fearing the Lord. The “wife of noble character,” then, is an ideal we can all learn from!
Go Deeper
How might we, men and women, cultivate our inward orientations and virtues? Our culture pushes us toward outward appearances, our brand, our image. How can the fear of the Lord help us resist this?
Pray with Us: Lord, if we are honest, the Proverbs 31 woman seems unrealistic and often intimidating. But, like her, we follow the same God who guides and gives gifts. Help us, men and women, to become people “of noble character” (Prov. 31:10).
