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Proverbs 31:10-31
Much of the Old Testament has to do with God working in the lives of
men. Sarah, Rachel, Rebekah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, and Deborah are
some of the prominent women in the Old Testament, but this tribute was
written in honor of, or in memory of, some beloved wife and mother
who will always be unknown. Her deeds and her spirit were obviously
more important to the writer than her name, because nowhere in the text
is found any evidence of a name given by the author.
She is valuable to her husband. She is not only his helpmate and the
mother of his children, but her actions show how much she means to
him.
I think you have been the best mother and the best woman in the world.
I think often of all the years you have toiled so faithfully, and loved us
so tenderly.
I think of the years you have toiled in the fields; of the nights when,
after the day's toil was over, you watched by the cradle of your babies,
and now, we have grown big and old. Only God knows all you did for
us.
We children owe you more than money, mother - more than honor and
love. We owe you ourselves - our lives. Even now, mamma, I remember
how I used to say my prayers at your knee, and now since I have gone
out into the world, and have learned of its awful sin, I wish sometimes
that I could always be a child." 2.
One can only imagine how thrilled a mother would be to receive such a
sweet letter from a son hundreds of miles away from home.
She is also valuable to the homeless. "She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy." v. 20 This busy and industrious
worker also had a heart of compassion for those who were unable to
accomplish all that she was doing in providing for her household.
"The good wife described here has every virtue wisdom can offer. She is
diligent, has a keen sense for business matters, is compassionate, is
prepared for the future, is a good teacher, is dedicated to her family and
above all else possesses the primary characteristic of biblical wisdom,
the fear of the Lord."3
Her virtue shows as she shuns sinfulness.
Dr. C.H. Toy writes that "this description, the alphabetic ode or 'Golden
ABC' of the perfect wife, is notable both for what it includes and for
what it omits. She is the industrious, sagacious business manager of the
house, a kindhearted mistress, the trusted friend of husband and
children, honored in her own person for what she does.5
Dr. Lee reminds us that as evil women bring men down, so in like
manner, do righteous women bring men up. "Let me say, incidentally, if
women have mastered men for evil, they have also mastered them for
good - and we gladly make declaration that some of the fairest and most
fragrant flowers that grow in the garden of God and some of the
sweetest and most luscious fruit that ripens in God's spiritual orchards
are there because of woman's faith, woman's love, woman's prayer,
woman's virtue, woman's tears, woman's devotion to Christ."6
All that she does through her work and her diligence are to insure that
her family will not suffer in the future. Clothes, food and shelter will be
provided by her hard work, but she also realizes that there are other
needs for the future in addition to material security.
Dr. R.G. Lee was preaching at Founder's Week services at the Moody
Bible Institute when he told this story about a mother who had a vision
for her lost son:
The next Sunday morning that boy was in church and I preached on the
cross of gold in the heart of God from all eternity. I gave the invitation
and down the aisle came this boy with his little mother behind him. He
grabbed me by the hand and said, "Preacher, I have been the devil's boy
long enough. I am going to be God's man from now on." And that little
mother was standing there trying to get up on her tiptoe to pull him
down and kiss him. She was crying and some other folks were crying.
Twenty-one people came that day. One of the deacons came by and
said, "Preacher, I don't care whether I get anything to eat today or not."
And I said, "No, I don't care whether I eat or not either. I don't care
whether I get home or not."7
That story reminded me of a poem that I had read many years ago and
placed in my Bible for I too, had a praying mother.
Lizzie DeArmond
May God give us churches with women of value, virtue and vision, and
may God help us to honor those who have blessed us through their
loving sacrifice of time, toil and tears.
Endnotes:
1 Garrett, Duane A., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs in The New American
Commentary. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1993, p. 245.