The Proverbs 31 Wife: How to Apply Biblical Principles to Marriage
As a Christian wife, there are many things that the Bible calls us to do in order to honor God and serve our families. Perhaps one of the most well-known passages of scripture that speaks to this is Proverbs 31. This chapter describes the characteristics of a "virtuous woman," or in some translations, a "wife of noble character." Let's take a closer look at what this passage says and how we can apply it to our lives as modern-day Christian wives.
Proverbs 31 begins by asking the question, "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies" (verse 10). This sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, which goes on to describe the many admirable qualities of such a woman. Here are some of the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 kind of woman:
She is trustworthy: "The heart of her husband safely trusts her" (v. 11).
She is hardworking: "She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands" (v. 13).
She is entrepreneurial: "She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard" (v. 16).
She is generous: "She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy" (v. 20).
She is wise: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness" (v. 26).
She is focused on her family: "She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness" (v. 27).
Additionally, the Bible provides other passages with guidance on how we can honor God and serve our families.
Submit to your husband: In Ephesians 5:22-24, wives are instructed to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. This does not mean that wives are inferior to their husbands, but rather that we are to respect and honor their God-given role as the leader in the family. Submitting to our husbands also involves trusting them and supporting them in their decisions.
Love your husband: In Titus 2:4, older women are encouraged to teach younger women to love their husbands. This involves not only expressing affection and appreciation for our husbands but also actively seeking their good and working to build a strong, healthy relationship with them.
Manage your home: In 1 Timothy 5:14, wives are instructed to manage their homes well. This includes taking care of household tasks, managing finances, and creating a warm and welcoming environment for our families.
Raise godly children: In Titus 2:5, wives are encouraged to be "self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands" so that "the word of God may not be reviled." One of the ways we can do this is by raising our children to love and serve God, teaching them the truths of the Bible, and modeling a life of faith and obedience.
Be a helper to your husband: In Genesis 2:18, God says that it is not good for man to be alone and creates woman as a helper suitable for him. As wives, we can support and assist our husbands in their work and in the responsibilities of family life.
6. Cultivate a gentle and quiet spirit: In 1 Peter 3:3-4, wives are encouraged to focus on inner beauty rather than outward appearance, cultivating a gentle and quiet spirit that is precious in God's sight. This involves developing a character that is marked by humility, kindness, and grace.
As Christian wives, we can strive to embody these characteristics in our own lives. This may mean being intentional about building trust with our husbands, working hard to care for our families, being creative and entrepreneurial in our pursuits, giving generously to those in need, seeking wisdom and speaking kindly, and prioritizing our families above other pursuits. Being a Christian wife is not always easy, but as we seek to follow God's design for marriage and family, we can trust that He will guide and strengthen us.
It's worth noting that being a Proverbs 31 kind of woman doesn't mean we have to be perfect or have it all together. Rather, it's about having a heart that is focused on God and seeking to honor Him in all we do. As we seek to live out these qualities in our lives, we can trust that God will be with us every step of the way, guiding us and empowering us to be the wives and women He has called us to be.
xo, Taira!
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