I don't know about you, but I love reading Proverbs 31. It gives these amazing attributes of what a wife of noble character is like. It's a checklist for women and a search-list for men.
However, I don't want to talk about this chapter in one blog post. There are many points in this chapter to go over. I want to start with verse one, specifically the first three words. "Who can find (a virtuous and capable wife)?..."
You're probably thinking these words do not describe the wife of noble character. The next sentence does, duh! "She's more precious than rubies." I know. I know. We'll definitely get to that part, but at the moment I want to talk about these interesting three words. Also remember, those three words are in there for a reason.
When I read that part, I simply read it and, I know this sounds bad, but sort of move on all the time, but for some reason my eyes got stuck reading those words over and over again this week. "Who can find?"
Have you ever played tag with the same people who like to hide in the same place, thinking you may have forgotten where their favorite hiding spot is? I believe kids are good at that. They would even tell you to look somewhere else before finding them in their same spot like the past three times.
This made me think about a virtuous, capable and noble wife. She's not one to play this game tag as if it's like playing cat and mouse. No. She separates herself in a hiding place, called the shadow of Gods wings. She finds herself content in her hiding place with God and truly seeking Him.
Content. That's a word I had to deeply research to not only understand it but understand how to apply it to my life. A few definitions I liked helped me gain an understanding of the word such as: 1. to be free from care because of satisfaction with what is already one's own. 2. a resting or satisfaction of mind without disquiet. 3. to be satisfied or pleased. I love the way how each definition used the word satisfaction. The best place to be satisfied is in the shadow of the Lords wings. Christian contentment is saying that no matter what happens or may come my way, I will be satisfied in Jesus Christ.
Contentment is one of the many attributes of a wife/woman of noble character, yet, there are women, as God calls wayward, also men who are called naive, who love this game (Proverbs chapters 5 and 7). They find joy in hiding and wanting to be found, and once they're found, they'll go hide again to be found by another. They like the chase of teasing people but no the race of pleasing God, same for men (Galatians 1:10 and 5:7 ; Proverbs 29:25). But love is not a game. Finding the right person is not a game. Wanting and desiring a marriage cannot have games like this.
Some call their season contentment when they are actually in a state of complacency. Trust me, I found and sometimes find myself in a complacent time. Now, complacency is the opposite of contentment. I found a few definitions from Merriam Webster's Dictionary. 1. self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. When it comes to safety, complacency can be dangerous. 2. an instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction. Relating it to our analogy above, it's like finding a good hiding place to where no one can find you, being complacent in loneliness. You may find yourself complacent in your daily routine, not wanting any change to happen. You may be complacent in ministry and don't realize your intentions that made you want to join are all now about helping yourself. You could find yourself complacent in a relationship just for it to benefit more of yourself than pleasing God and loving your significant other. It makes you feel good. Complacency is not a characteristic that a wife/woman of noble character has. Be careful not fall into this place. You'll find yourself exposed for danger instead covered and protected in the shadow of the Lord's wings.
Content for a wife/woman of noble character is to be satisfied in God. Complacent is to be satisfied with what you have, what you got for yourself that could harm you. Shorter version of what I said haha.
Being a wife, or husband, or praying to become a wife, or husband, requires full attention on seeking God's way, hiding in the shadow of His wings and staying satisfied in Him first. One scripture that has been popping up a lot to me is 2 Corinthians 6:17 says "Therefore come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. You can't follow what the rest of the crowd is doing. You can't think, well they've been found and are dating already. Well, they have this, and they have that. Stop focusing on what others have! Stop looking for something that's not yours or not there! God didn't say go search for something that's good in your eyes. God didn't say focus on them. He called you to separate yourself from them who are striving for a worldly type of relationship, hide yourself in the shadow of His wings and be satisfied, content, in the Lord. Don't think God has forgotten about you, therefore don't go running and hiding from the one who are already found you.
(Reminder: God was never lost, but you were.)
All of this leads straight to my point on why the three words - "who can find (a virtuous capable wife)," - are important to remember and not to skip over. If you go back to Proverbs 19:14, the NLT version says, "Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife." I like a couple other versions as well, such as: "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord." NKJV. The AMP version says, "House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord." I'm sure you spotted it. I'm positive you may be getting my point, but let's go over it. Notice how in Proverbs 19:14 states,
"...only the Lord can give an understanding wife." (NLT)
"...but a prudent wife is from the Lord." (NKJV)
"...but a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord." (AMP)
That's right. Only God can give a wife of understanding (to comprehend; to know), of prudence (careful, wise discernment; the avoidance of rash behavior or speech; the good management of talents and resources and the showing of tact and wisdom in relationships with other people), of wisdom (properly, having knowledge; hence, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false; between what is fit and proper) and sensibility (having, containing, or indicative of good sense or reason : rational, reasonable.)
God can make you into that beautiful wife of noble character, and to the men, that mighty warrior like Gideon. Not only to be a wife or husband, but to be a (single) woman or man after Gods own heart. As I am learning myself, sharing with you what I've been learning and studying, I say we continue to strive to be virtuous like the Proverbial woman. Let's be wise like Solomon. Let's run to God like David. Let's seek after God and His protection and he will lead us. No more games. No more comparison. No more coveting your neighbor. Let's simply stay content where God has us, in the shadow of His wings, trusting and obeying him, because only He can find a virtuous wife, or a mighty man of valor.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for all women who desire marriage or are content with being single. I pray for guidance, direction and peace for our lives. I pray you will teach us women to become a wife/woman of noble character, that when you seek to and fro, you will find many virtuous women who choose to seek after you, your protection and your plans. I pray we will remember to stay under the shadow of your wings from wondering off to find a place to hide in complacency. Help us to remember it's okay to separate ourselves from the wretched ways of this world Thank you Jesus for your love for us. In Jesus name,
Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for all the men who desire a marriage or are content with being single. I pray you will lead the men to become wise in their search for their proverbial wife and wise in all decisions in their daily lives. Help these godly men to trust you and seek you first, knowing that you have great things in store for them. Pour out your strength, wisdom and guidance in their lives. Keep them in the shadow of your wings, protected from wayward ways and plans from the devil. In Jesus name,
Amen.
I hope you enjoyed this weeks blog. Don't forget there will be a new blog post every Friday! (Sorry this blog was late.) Also, why not share it to someone who may need to read this? You never know how it can change someone's life.
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Once again, thanks peeps.
Scripture of the Day: Isaiah 40:31 "...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Song of the Day: Still by Hillsong Worship
