If you look up the word “virtue” in the dictionary you will undoubtedly get a definition that states that virtue is strength. The word comes from the Latin word vireo who’s primary meaning is strength.
It would be improper to substitute the word strength for virtuous in many cases because virtue has a very specific connotation. Virtuous usually refers to an inward character. It could be the essence of a plant (that today we would call the nutritional value) that is designed inside the very fibers of that vegetation that gives it its characteristics, but only the positive ones. The virtue of an herb that gives its strength to man when fresh may loose some or all of its virtue when it has set dry for too long.
When speaking about a person, however, virtue can speak to any one quality of a person, but virtuous most often speaks to all of them, or near all. If a man has the virtue of giving but the vise of gluttony he is not a virtuous man. To the degree his character reflects Godliness is the degree he is virtuous.
Proverbs 31 KJV
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31 is famous for describing the virtuous woman.
No doubt she is a hard worker, and this is highlighted in the text quite well. The texts does not say who can find a woman with virtue, this would be an easy task. I have known many physically strong women in my life who can work long hours or who frequent the gym to gain strength.
My sister started her own business a few years ago. After getting her CNA by working hard at a veterans nursing home, she studied and advanced to be on the board of directors of a prestigious rest home company. She then got her license to operate her own home health company and has been tirelessly working to help that take off.
She also has been taking care of my 92 year old grandfather with little help and recently started running my fathers dialyses machine every day for him. She and my mom homeschool her children and she is still involved in her nieces and nephews lives. Without question this requires physical virtue.
My other sister is a hardworking woman in her own right. She paid her way through college until she decided to join the Airforce, took a pause for that, jumped back into college, got married, stays physically active in running and exercising, is always being promoted, and rising to the top of where ever she is. Time would fail me to tell of how physically and mentally strong some of the women in my life are.
However, this is not the only point of proverbs 31. It is not saying that a strong woman is hard to find. The world is full of strong women. Virtuous women on the other hand, those are rare. As rare as a ruby. A ruby is one of the most expensive gemstones getting its red color from chromium. It has gone through extreme pressure and heat in its formation making it scratch resistant and beautiful.
Proverbs 31 isn’t as much about showing what a strong woman looks like, but shows what a woman who has a proper understanding of God, her roles, and her duties can do to impact the world around her. What is this focus? It is her understanding of the fear of God that causes her to focus on God. what are her roles? Mother, Wife, Mistress – a lady responsible for servants. What are her duties? To bring honor to her God, her husband, her family by providing for some of their base needs and selflessly giving of herself.
This Proverbs 31 woman is not one that is working in her own strength, doing her own will, being her own boss. She is serving in her proper rolls, under the fear of God. When a person, man or woman, understands the fear of God it should cause them to get into their proper roles, and fulfill that duty.
A deep red ruby, that has been heated by the fires from the depths of the earth, with the weight of the world upon it pressing it into a hard place, is arguably the most expensive gem in existence. It is also known as the king of jewels. This stone is a great type of the stone that the builders rejected. Not knowing the value of him – or because of jealousy – they cast Jesus away. They shed his precious – rare – blood that ran a deep red. He holds the weight of the world, he has suffered the infernal temperatures of hell, he has, and will, come forth, a King of kings! He is the picture of all virtue, but like the lady that touch the hem of his clothes, we can receive his virtue!
God has entrusted me with a wife and (for now) two daughters. It is my prayer that God help me show them what a virtuous man, father, and husband looks like as I ask got to help me emulate Christ. I need his wisdom to turn my home into a jewel factory. I want to raise rubies so that they can shine in this world and point others to Christ’s ruby red blood that is more precious than any gemstone, and more valuable than the costliest jewels. I want to raise Women that fear the Lord and trust in him.
Lord, empower me to be virtuous, so that I may impart that to my family.
S.T.
I Thessalonians 5:24
"Faithful is he..."
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