THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN


The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

THIS WEEKEND WE CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY. IT'S ALWAYS A TIME TO REMEMBER THOSE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN US ALL, THE GREATEST GIFT ¾ OUR LIVES!

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about what the Bible says about such wonderful women…

…Hello and welcome friends to today special broadcast of the World, the Word & You! We're dedicating this day to remembering and giving thanks for all those wonderful women whom God has given the privilege and blessing of becoming a mother. I'm Dennis Finnan, your host and commentator thanking you for joining us and praying that the next half hour, will be a most rewarding and instructive time for your listening enjoyment.

Our program comes to you each week on this fine station and the Internet by the kind care and prayers of many of God's people from differing walks of life. From churches like the Lakeside Community Chapel of Clearwater Florida, the Mitchell Evangelical Free Church, of Mitchell, Nebraska, and the St. Charles Bible Church, of St. Charles, MN ¾ along with many wonderful individuals from a variety of God's other churches around the nation and the world ¾ we derive our sustenance and keeping in the will and grace of God. To all of you we say THANK YOU!

And, in light of such a responsibility to fulfill the proclamation of God's Good Word to all the world, we present today's broadcast entitled: "THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN." But first, let's pause and listen to this lovely moment of music…

… I was shopping the other day with my wife and while she shopped for the necessities of life, I was browsing the book table in the establishment. There in bold letters was the title of what was planned to be an intriguing book. It was called "BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE." Of course, the title was there to specifically "lure" the male inquisitiveness, for on the cover was the addition of a pretty woman's face veiled in the middle eastern fashion with beautiful eyes glowing forth. In all honesty, it was a good selling feature as well as quite applicable to the issue. For in the Bible we have many illustrations of how not to live and what not to be as far as a woman is concerned. Perhaps the most instructive in this area are the words of King Solomon in his divinely inspired book in the Bible called "The Proverbs."

Truly, no man has ever lived who has had as much experience with women as King Solomon, who Scripture says, loved many strange women." It is reported in the bible that this man alone had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, all whom it seemed were idolaters. The result?

1 Ki 11:1-4 (NIV) "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women….

2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been."

Yes it was a sad testimony, but nonetheless God used this man to write for us what within a woman, was to be highly valued; and, what God had impressed upon him was what God honored and adored in the female aspect of His highest creation. So, after one more pause for a moment of music, I'll return with what I believe are King Solomon's most useful wisdom and words about ¾ the VIRTUOUS WOMAN and MOTHER, Stay tuned…

… In the very last chapter of the Book of Proverbs we come to what has been described as the ABC's of a Perfect Wife and Mother! You like many others may have read this before, or heard it preached from a pulpit of a church, yet I must say no matter how many times I've read this, I NEVER cease to be amazed at its beauty and wonderful truths to behold. So let's explore the text and find out what it can say to you and to me today on this lovely "Mother's Day celebrated in the United States of America.

Prov 31:10-31 (NLT) "Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life. 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship; she brings her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 16 She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18 She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. 19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. 20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. 21 She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. 22 She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth. 23 Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders. 24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. 27 She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness. 28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29 "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."

Now if you are like me, after reading or hearing this, one cannot but be amazed and breathless as to the extent of perfection this woman of proverbs displayed to the people of her day. However, let me say a word of caution to any woman who might just "give up," after listening to the praise of this dynamic "wonder" woman!

I believe as many scholars do, that this is a "picture" not of an actual woman, but a composite of many women, all rolled together to give our woman a picture of the many faceted goals and perfections each one can strive for and master in some particular human way. Proof of this may well be seen in the fact that in the original Hebrew, this passage is found in what is called an acrostic. Each of the 22 verses begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Why? For it as meant to be easily put to memory for the purpose of considering making it a goal for a godly woman, mother and wife.

Now, arguments flair a bit as to who really wrote this. Was it King Solomon or some unknown person named Lemuel. My thoughts are this is just another name for David's great son Solomon. Yet the matter is irrelevant. God placed it in His Word the Bible, and we can therefore trust its words and message explicitly as the very "breath of God" given to all humanity as the ideal, the goal, the pattern and perfections of womanhood God wants to see worked out in the life of every wife and mother. So… let's breakdown the many facets of perfections we find here and make a composite Noble woman for our Mother's Day message.

Now basically, this "Virtuous" or noble mother has at least six godly qualities God puts on display as to what He wants to see in the woman who becomes a wife and mother. They are as follows:

1. SHE IS A COMMENDABLE FAITHFUL WIFE AND MOTHER - The Bible opens here with the words "Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?" the reason for this is such a woman is very hard to find. For such a woman is far more valuable that precious jewels and what other material things money can buy. The Scripture describes her first endearing qualities:

Prov 31:11-12 (NLT) "Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life."
How important it is to establish trust, faithfulness, and a cooperative spirit. Sadly today many woman have grown up to believe a woman is to be competitive to the male of our race. God never designed a woman to be such! Rather than competitive, she is to be complimentary. I can't believe there is a man out there that enjoys a woman competing against him in life and living. How men long for a woman to be a "woman," displaying her tender graces, gentle and endearing emotions, and all her feminine mystique! As the French would say "Viva la difference!" God wants women to be women, and to glory in what God made them. Nothing is more unattractive than a masculine woman competing for manhood. But this virtuous noble mother and wife is first found to be her husband confidant, compliment and trusted faithful friend. Secondly, we discover another quality all wives and mothers need to explore, for we see,

2. SHE LIVES FOR HER HOME AND FAMILY - Again today's model wife and mother is far from the Biblical view here. This woman of Proverbs is one who sees her goal and living to be centered in her home and family. If statistics in America today are correct, the overwhelming figures show that wives and mothers are abandoning the home for the workplace. Some admittedly out of economic necessity due to absent fathers and husbands, but most sadly due to the false teaching of evolutionary modernists who have taught young woman the home is a demeaning place. Yet I challenge any woman who has opted for the workplace for a considerable length of time, to tell me ¾ if she could do it all over again, would she have chosen the safety, serenity and confines of a blessed home instead? I know so, for again statistics tell us this is the hard fact of life for many women. Yet this woman in Proverbs, lived for her family and her home. We read,

Prov 31:13-15 (NLT) "She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship; she brings her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls."

Wow! Indeed her home was her castle and also her "altar" where she worshipped and served the Lord with her talents, treasures and life. What did she get for it? She found PEACE TRANQUILITY, SATISFACTION, PRAISE, and most of all abiding LOVE from her husband and children. Now, admittedly we're talking about the ideal situation. However, finding oneself in less than this ideal, is NEVER reason to abandon truth and the principles that God has given us for our lives and living. We are to do our part and any failure of others we are to leave to God. Now in addition to this mother making her home the center of her life and ministry, we discover a third thing,

3. SHE IS A FULL-TIME INDUSTRIOUS HOMEMAKER - Yes not only did she opt to stay at home and be a real "mother" to her children and a homemaker, while there she was not lazy! She was industrious as can be. How many wives who stay home, fail here? Too many American wives grow fat and lazy, they become "couch potatoes," and don't move from the TV screen. The house is in shambles, the beds ago unmade, the floor and carpet are dirty, the sink piles high with unwashed dishes, and the kids look worse than she! Not this woman in the Bible God gives as an illustration of how she manages her home ¾ she works full-time there! You know I tire at the old expression so often used of woman who stay at home. "Oh she doesn't work, she's a housewife." Let me tell you some years ago my wife was laid up with a broken leg. I opted to help and quickly volunteered to take over her job. After a couple of weeks, "I" was ready for the hospital! I never realized how much she did around the house to keep my family of five children going, growing and straight. God bless industrious homemakers, who silently care for us and make our homes our castles of domestic tranquility and beauty! Well there's more goals for a mother and wife to set. We further see the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs…

4. SHE'S DISCIPLINED, ORDERLY & WORKS OUT OF HER HOME - God's ideal of a stay at home wife and mother is not one to be pampered, and left to do as she pleases with no responsibilities. Such an idle woman usually ends up unfulfilled, and often gets into trouble. No so for this virtuous woman. She plans her day and works her plan. She even established a home cottage industry to help out her family needs. We read,

Prov 31:16-18 (NLT) "She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18 She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night."

You know a woman doesn’t have to always go to work if the husbands income is not sufficient for the family needs. She can work at home, especially with the home business opportunities and corporate support of working at home available today. Indeed, God delights to see a woman organized, disciplined and a hard worker. That's God's ideal woman. I hope any women listening out there that this is your goal in your marriage and home life. Quickly now there's more. We also see this noble woman as,

5. SHE KEEPS HERSELF ATTRACTIVE, FOSTERS REFINED TASTES AND DISPLAYS THE GRACE OF HOSPITALITY - Yes sir! Here's a woman that any man's heart would skip a beat for! Although she's married and has many children, she never let herself "go to seed." How sad when I see woman as the years go by just neglect herself physically, develop course language, tastes, and a lack of that womanly mystique and grace. It's no wonder the Devil can seduce so many husbands into infidelity and abandonment of the home, when he has to come home to the disheveled and unnecessarily fat woman who often awaits him. May I say to any wife and mother, keep yourself trim and attractive. Do your hair, wear makeup to greet your husband. Every morning in the office or workplace other woman do, where they are at their wittiest and prettiest! So young lady, work at it and always make your husband's eyes light up, when he first gazes upon you after a hard day's work. That will keep alive your marriage and home and give your children further example of what a great wife and mother you are! Actually we've seen enough, but God gives us more still. We see perhaps the most important feature of motherhood of all…

6. SHE'S VIRTUOUS BECAUSE SHE IS MAINTAINS A SPIRITUAL LIFE OF FAITH - The most beautiful women in the world are those who have found God in Jesus Christ and are learning to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. We read in the Bible,

Prov 31:29-30 (NLT) ""There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised."

Notice the husband of this exceptional wife and mother most praised her, not for her industry as exceptional as it was, not for her physical beauty though she maintained it, and not for her commitment to the home as fantastic as that was but rather for the fact that she was a godly wife and mother. She maintained her spiritual life and loved "Jehovah," the revealed Creator God of the Bible. Do you maintain your spiritual life? How? There are five ways God wants every believer to know and follow Him.

  1. FAITHFUL READING AND STUDY OF THE BIBLE.
  2. DAILY PRAYER FOR THE NEEDS OF YOUR FAMILY, OTHERS & PRAISE OF GOD
  3. DAILY FAMILY DEVOTIONS & REGULAR WEEKLY WORSHIP
  4. CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP & ENTERTAINMENT
  5. ACTIVE SHARING OF CHRIST WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

All these five things are what are called the key to spiritual growth and nourishment of the Christian life. Every wife and mother, and for that matter every living soul who claims the name of Christ, is to examine these last five important things to see that they are operative in your heart and life. For failure to maintain them will bring a loss of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction God has planned for your to enjoy.

Yes this weekend we celebrate "Mother's Day" in America, and it is a time all of us should remember our faithful wives and mothers. First of all, give thanks to God for them, and then personally if they are still alive, tell them and show them in some practical way ¾ your gratefulness. Although few woman may achieve all these qualities found in the VIRTUOUS WOMAN of Proverbs 31:10-31, every woman can work at them all, and accomplish those areas she does excel at. And, husbands and fathers make it your business to help your wife and mother of your children, to accomplish this in your home. Support her, love her, be an example to her of what a "real" loving man and faithful husband is to be. She will ever be grateful and show it in the ways this proverb ends. We read,

Prov 31:29-31 (NLT) ""There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."

Every day and especially on Mothers' Day, "REWARD HER FOR ALL SHE'S DONE!" says the Lord God, who is Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that you first know Him, that you first have given Him your heart, soul and life and that you are trusting in Christ alone for your relationship to your Creator and Maker. Then make sure your home meets the measurements of God's Word. If it is and you do ¾ you can be assured of finding your complete happiness and satisfaction of life there…

…The Virtuous Woman! Oh, God's illustration in the book of Proverbs is indeed a matchless marvelous goal, but do you know what? God promises every woman she can be that, as much though as she yields herself to Jesus Christ, He will perform this in and through her for His glory and her families joy and blessings. God bless our godly Mothers, God bless their love, care, sacrifice and giving so often quietly extended to us in her home. May her tribe increase, and may our love, care, protection, provision, and praise do so too for all godly women and mothers.

 

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 18 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/