Day 31 – Proverbs 31

Jan 31 2010

Vs 30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

As I watched the Miss America pageant last night, I found myself conflicted.  As women I think we are naturally drawn to pageants, stages, celebrities and pretty things.  Because we’ve grown up with these things idolized and applauded it’s difficult to turn off those longings or desires.  I think it’s safe to say that every little girl wanted to be on that stage at some point in her life.

But as I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I’m contented to discover that so much of what I idolized about beauty queens is not that much different from this Godly woman that we read about in Proverbs.

The Proverbs 31 woman:

  • is noble
  • is worth more than rubies
  • has earned her husband’s confidence
  • works hard
  • is disciplined
  • serves her family
  • is a business woman
  • is strong
  • is a good steward of her resources
  • helps the poor and needy
  • decorates her home
  • dresses well
  • is married to a respected man
  • has dignity
  • laughs
  • speaks with wisdom
  • gives faithful instruction
  • is not idle
  • is blessed by her children
  • is praised by her husband

Isn’t the Proverbs 31 woman so much of what we long to be?

Isn’t that what a lot of our pageantry is about?

I think the defining difference is in the last part of verse 30: “but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  While all of these other qualities are good, without the fear of the Lord these things become deceptive and fleeting.  I believe that is why all our attempts to aspire to these qualities end up feeling empty, shallow… hollow.

What stands out about the Proverbs 31 woman to you?

Jenni Catron

Tagged as: Miss America, pagaents, proverbs, virtuous woman

14 Comments

  • At 2010.01.31 06:29, Beauty Queens | Jenni Catron said:

    [...] Continue reading at the 31 Day Challenge blog… [...]

    [Reply]
    • At 2010.01.31 09:01, Kelly@Tabithas-Team said:

      Jenni, Thank you so much for representing Proverbs 31 in this way! This is a hot-button pedestal topic for me (see Is Proverbs 31 Making You Crazy – 10 Things Not Found in Proverbs 31)

      So often this chapter is used to tell women what things they need to do to become a wife of noble character, instead of showing what kind of character flows from a woman who fears the Lord and has given her heart to him. As you pointed out, we turn this woman into an idol and use her to feed our perfectionism. I love the beauty pageant analogy.

      [Reply]
      • At 2010.01.31 17:33, Jenni Catron said:

        Kelly – I can’t wait to go read your post!

        [Reply]
      • At 2010.01.31 16:21, Tracy said:

        I appreciate the way you listed the attributes we see in this godly woman; certainly a desireable list.

        I also appreciate your focus on the woman’s heart is where this all comes from as well. To be candid, when I’ve read this in the past I’ve typically just felt like I’m a failure; like I need to work harder and be better. While I’m certainly glad that God does bring change and growth into my life, and that I’m not the same person today that I was ten yrs ago, I’m grateful that it’s not about working and working and working to be a better person and please God. I’m grateful that He loves me as I am and gives me the power to grow in various areas of my life so that I can become more like the incredible woman described here.

        [Reply]
        • At 2010.01.31 17:34, Jenni Catron said:

          Tracy – I totally understand. Sometimes this chapter feels overwhelming and unattainable. The heart is the key.

          [Reply]
        • At 2010.01.31 17:49, Joey Faulk said:

          Jenni, great connection point on an event such as the Miss America Pageant with the Word…right on!

          As I read the list you made out of Proverbs 31… It reminds me that I am blessed out of my mind to have a wife that follows after the Lord Jesus. I want to strive to be the “respected man” (how bout a “Psalms 1 man”) that she is married to. She is a Proverbs 31 woman for sure!

          Thanks for your post on that. I’ve enjoyed being involved in reading Proverbs in community with CP31Days.

          [Reply]
          • At 2010.01.31 17:54, Jenni Catron said:

            Joey – thanks for being a part of the discussion with us!

            [Reply]
          • At 2010.01.31 18:01, ash said:

            Jen,
            Thanks for this! I’ve spent a good deal of time in my life trying to exemplify these traits outwardly without necessarily tending to the matter of my heart’s connectedness with the Lord. GOt it a little backwards. I need this reminder that the praiseworthy behaviors are evidence of and flow from the heart within!

            [Reply]
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