The Proverbs 31 Woman and the Bigger Picture
Is there a bigger picture of the Proverbs 31 woman than the one we have come to know? All my life I thought this woman was a snapshot of what I should be as a wife and mother. And here comes the guilt again of not measuring up. Groan.
After forty-nine years in that role, I can tell you I have not achieved the lofty goal of attaining superwoman status. I’m still working the plan. I truly want to please my Lord Jesus and do my best, not to mention how happy it makes Gene when I am the exemplary wife, mother, homemaker, and businesswoman. And let’s not forget how I make him look good, as I describe in my daily devotional, Connections, the July 3rd devotion to be exact.
However, I have an enormous question mark in my brain now about the Proverbs 31 woman. Does God have a bigger picture in mind here, much bigger than this wife and mother? I think He does. Could it be that God is talking about His Son Jesus Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom, and His bride, the church? After all, it is an excellent analogy, a measuring rod of what His church should look like, represent, and be in the world today.
Therefore, if this supposition is correct, the burden of this description in Proverbs 31 rests with the church, men and women living on the earth today. Wow! I already feel better! So, it is “how are we doing” as believers, lovers, and followers of Jesus Christ and not merely “how am I doing” as a wife?
A bigger picture of the Proverbs 31 woman includes the church as being industrious, strategic, hospitable, generous, serves others well, and points people far and wide to Jesus. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies” (v. 10).