Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
I came into marriage somewhat lacking in traditional domestic skills. If I were to check off all the virtues of the “excellent wife” described in Proverbs 31, I clearly would not pass muster. The Proverbs 31 woman “provides food for her household” (v.15). My husband was a better cook than me. “She considers a field and buys it” (v.16). My business experience reached no further than managing my checkbook. She “plants a vineyard” (v.16). Not even a green thumbnail on my un-green thumb. But the most disqualifying quality of all: she “makes linen garments” (v.24).
After our first year of marriage, Chip and I moved back to the area where he was raised. As a fairly new bride, I was excited to get to know his family better and acclimate myself into Lancaster County culture. For Christmas, his parents bought me a new Singer sewing machine, which included 10 sewing lessons at the Singer store. I so much appreciated their kind generosity, but it soon became obvious I missed out on the sewing gene.
Our class project after learning the basics of the machine, included making a dress. Picking out material, patterns, etc. I’ll never forget the instructor’s words when he examined my dress at Class 9. “Why don’t we just throw this away and try something else!” True story. But I tried again. I attempted making curtains, but Chip’s two younger sisters had to come to my rescue. And I don’t ever remember seeing the tie I tried to make for Grandpa surface again.
So what about those Proverbs 31 women?
I think out of all the beautiful characteristics of a virtuous woman, verse 30 points us to the most important attribute of all. She “fears the Lord.” And that reverence for God allows everything else to fall into place. Fearing the Lord lays the foundation for all wisdom (Psalm 111:10). It guides us, brings prosperity to our children, and draws us into a place of intimacy with him (Psalm 25:12-14).
We don’t have to mirror Christianity’s version of Martha Stewart to be a woman of God. We don’t have to wow people with our charm and beauty. Discovering who he calls us to be begins with reverent fear.
Thankfully, not a needle and thread.