Charm Is Deceptive, And Beauty Is Fleeting; But A Woman Who Fears The Lord Is To Be Praised
A Picture Of What Christ' Church Should Be
PROVERBS 31:30-31
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
”Proverbs 31:30-31 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.31.30-31.NKJ
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The book of Proverbs begins with the command to fear the Lord (1:7), and ends with the picture of a woman who fulfils this command. Her qualities are mentioned throughout the book: hard work, fear of God, respect for her husband, foresight, encouragement, care for others, wisdom in handling finances, and coupled to the fear of God, lead to success, honour, and worth. Proverbs is practical for us because it shows us how to make wise decisions, and live according to God’s ideal.
Proverbs has a lot to say about women.
Some people have the miss-conception that the ideal woman in the bible is retiring, servile, and entirely domestic. This is not so! Read PROVERBS 31:10-31.The woman described in these verses, is an excellent wife and mother. She is also a manager, a manufacturer, an importer, a realtor, a farmer, a seamstress, an upholsterer, and a merchant.
Her strength and dignity do not come from her amazing achievements, they are without doubt, a result of her reverence for God.
In our society, where physical appearance counts for so much, it may surprise you, that her appearance is never mentioned, her attractiveness comes entirely from her character. The woman in this chapter has outstanding abilities, and her family's social position is high.
Don't look at her as a model to imitate in every detail, your days are not long enough to do what she does.
Instead, see her as inspiration to be all that you can be.
We can't be just like her, she may not be one woman at all, she is virtuous and may be a composite portrait of ideal womanhood. But we can learn from her industry, integrity, and resourcefulness.
Her picture is a picture of what the church should be, both as the body and the bride of Christ.
Each member knowing their place and operating in unity by the leadership of the groom, the head, Jesus Christ, within His five fold apostolic ministry (EPHESIANS 4:11).
But charm is deceitful and beauty is passing-we cannot judge a book by its cover. There are many churches, some good, others not so good, but unless it's apostolic, it's not of God and shall profit you nothing.
Furthermore, we believers are to meet many people, some sent to destroy us, some to encourage us, and others to receive the Good News of Christ Jesus. But we must not let the opportunities pass.
We all need discernment that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Many will seem like the virtuous woman in psalm 31 and some quite the opposite, but we cannot judge by what we see or hear.
We believers are called to love them all, shining for Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to influence them and show them there’s a better way to live, for He wants no one to perish, but for all to turn to God in repentance (2 PETER 3:9).
Jesus said, ““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
