The Modern-Day Proverbs 31 Woman

To read Proverbs 31 can give a woman a complex. The attributes of the woman King Lemuel describes seem almost like an ideal. Her virtues almost seem unattainable. Take verse 15: my version of breakfast is not getting up before dawn to cook a whole and hearty meal for my family, but a groggy “Help yourselves. There’s cereal in the cabinet and milk in the fridge” while I wait for the caffeine to kick in.

Bear in mind that the author was offering us an illustration of a woman of valor, not to condemn those of us who don’t measure up, but to learn from her godly example and strive towards greater heights in our relationships—with God, with our spouses, with our families, and with those within our circle of influence.

Let’s take a quick look at some of her virtues. She is:

• Trustworthy (vs11)
• Loving and supportive (vs 12)
• Savvy (vs 13 and 16)
• Resourceful (vs 14)
• Disciplined (vs 15)
• Not given to laziness (vs 17, 27)
• Skilled and diligent (vs 18 and 19)
• Compassionate (vs 20)
• Prepared (vs 21)
• Orderly and neat (vs 22)
• Supportive (vs 23)
• Creative (vs 24)
• Confident (vs 25)
• Wise and gracious in her speech (vs 26)
• Loved and respected (vs 28)
• Honorable and accomplished (vs 29)

I know, heavy stuff, right? It seems hard to live up to such ideals. But we need to be careful not to view this as a list of requisites and must-haves in order to become the perfect woman. The goal is not to check off all the boxes but to consider these virtues as objectives we can work on as we engage in purposeful growth.

What flows out of us, as a result, should bring honor to the One who lives inside of us.