What
does it mean to be a wife of Noble Character?
I’ve been a wife for just over nine months now and it’s been quite the journey so far, God has blessed me abundantly. Everyone always told us that our first year of marriage would make the biggest impact on the rest of our journey as it’s the time when we form habits, find our roles, learn how to be married, learn how to live together and the list goes on. As I’ve been re-reading through psalms and proverbs over the past few months, I’ve really been looking for God’s wisdom on what it takes to be a good wife – a wife that reflects my Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ve been learning so much and wanted to share just a little from my morning devotions today.
Proverbs 12: 4 says, “A wife of Noble Character is her husbands crown…”
I didn’t look too much into this specific verse, but after giving it some thought I wrote down a few opinions… Why is she compared to a crown? I would assume that ‘back in the day’ a man would be {proud} to wear his crown on his head. It would be probably the first thing you notice when you saw him, and this would greatly affect how you act towards this individual. In a sense, he would be showing it off, showing others the glamorous and probably expensive adornment he was wearing. The crown gave him status, power, reputation, significance, confidence etc. That is why he would wear it – for the meaning it gave it to him. A wife of {Noble Character} is just like this crown. She makes her husband proud, he is joyful to have her by his side. He wants to show her off, he feels she is a part of him – giving him meaning and significance and confidence.
Proverbs 31: 11+12 says, “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
Can her husband trust her? He knows she will not hurt his spirit or betray him, AND that she strives to give him everything GOD values {patience, kindness and love} – look at 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. She will strive to always forgive, always show grace, always be humble and always lay down her own desires and wants to stand by His Side – she will reflect what Jesus did for the church, what greater purpose can one have?!!!!
Obviously
you can study verse-by-verse Proverbs 31 for a bigger portrait of the Noble
Wife, but I’m going to jump to a different scriptural example…
Ruth! Ruth is described as a woman of noble character in Ruth 3:11, “All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” This can be literally translated to {Woman of Valor}, meaning, “boldness, determination, courage and bravery.” Valor was commonly used to describe great warriors. This reminds me that being a wife is not just a title and role you play and that’s all you have to do for the rest of you life. Being a wife is not always easy, it requires great sacrifice – and even more sacrifice once becoming a mom I’d imagine. Being a wife actually gives you much purpose and opportunity to be bold and do great things for God. Sometimes women might think we give up our ability to do great things for God when we get married, but this is definitely not the case. Supporting your husband and being his God-given foundation in HIS walk of faith, and as he fulfills God’s plans for HIS life, is a HUGE and extremely important role. Gods work in HIS life very much so IS Gods work in your life, along with many other things that God can still do through you individually.
It’s interesting to me that in proverbs, a wife of noble character is said to be “worth far more than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). This SAME thing is said of Wisdom, “…For wisdom is more precious than rubies.” (Proverbs 3:13-15 AND Proverbs 8:11) I love this. Most of proverbs are about how Wisdom is SO valuable and we should desire wisdom above all else – God given wisdom. Solomon also then says that a wife of noble character is too, more valuable than rubies. To me this is speaking loud and clear that a wife of noble character is not only to one’s benefit, but it would also be a sign that the man is of great character himself and is gaining in wisdom from the Lord. Also, a woman can not be of noble character and be ‘more precious than rubies’ unless she is seeking out God’s wisdom in her life and growing in her knowledge and understanding of the Lord.
Ruth! Ruth is described as a woman of noble character in Ruth 3:11, “All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” This can be literally translated to {Woman of Valor}, meaning, “boldness, determination, courage and bravery.” Valor was commonly used to describe great warriors. This reminds me that being a wife is not just a title and role you play and that’s all you have to do for the rest of you life. Being a wife is not always easy, it requires great sacrifice – and even more sacrifice once becoming a mom I’d imagine. Being a wife actually gives you much purpose and opportunity to be bold and do great things for God. Sometimes women might think we give up our ability to do great things for God when we get married, but this is definitely not the case. Supporting your husband and being his God-given foundation in HIS walk of faith, and as he fulfills God’s plans for HIS life, is a HUGE and extremely important role. Gods work in HIS life very much so IS Gods work in your life, along with many other things that God can still do through you individually.
It’s interesting to me that in proverbs, a wife of noble character is said to be “worth far more than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). This SAME thing is said of Wisdom, “…For wisdom is more precious than rubies.” (Proverbs 3:13-15 AND Proverbs 8:11) I love this. Most of proverbs are about how Wisdom is SO valuable and we should desire wisdom above all else – God given wisdom. Solomon also then says that a wife of noble character is too, more valuable than rubies. To me this is speaking loud and clear that a wife of noble character is not only to one’s benefit, but it would also be a sign that the man is of great character himself and is gaining in wisdom from the Lord. Also, a woman can not be of noble character and be ‘more precious than rubies’ unless she is seeking out God’s wisdom in her life and growing in her knowledge and understanding of the Lord.
Learning
to be a woman of Noble Character is not about a how-to list or a list of do’s
and don’ts, it’s about seeking the Lord and putting him continually first in
your life, always. Growing in your knowledge and understanding of His word and
becoming more like Him. Then, whether you are a wife or not, this will play out in your life and in your relationships and if married, your marriage, and you will be a Noble Woman - a Noble Woman who knows she will never be 'on target' and therefore who continues to seek more and more growth in her walk with the Lord.
Random thoughts for a Monday.
Cheers :)
GOD IS FAKE. How can you say he's real? No proof.
ReplyDeleteThere is proof everywhere. God created everything and everyone and ultimately all that he created proves his existence. It's not 'seeing' that causes us to believe. It's SO easy to believe in something thats right before your physical eyes. God deserves our faith and our trust, but that being said, I still see proof for God everywhere, I can feel Him. God has given us His Word, which if we read it with an open mind, God WILL use to allow us to understand. Faith in God is only possibly through God's strength. Maybe you need to stop trying to find 'proof' in the human sense and actually try finding God in the ways he suggests (prayer and through reading the bible).
DeleteAnyways. Praying for you - Steven. God is always near to you, its just about whether or not you want to acknowledge it and open your heart to believe it.