Video Transcript: The Proverbs 31 Woman

It's day eight and we're on Lesson Eight. The Proverbs 31 virtuous woman.  Finally, we'll be looking at her. And while we love her and aspire to be her,  remember that we recognize that she is meant to be the ideal, rather than the  standard that we have to attain or die trying. So let's read it together. We'll start  in verse 10. Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies, the  heart of her husband, doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of  spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool  and flax and she works diligently with her hands. She's like the merchant ships,  bringing her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and gives meat to her  household and a portion to her maidens. She considers a field and buys it. With  the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. I don't know what you're thinking,  but I'm thinking wow, where does she have the time. She girds her loins with  strength and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is  good. And her candle goes not out by night. She lays her hands to the spindle  and her hands hold the distaff. She stretches out her hand to the poor. Yes, she  stretches forth her hands to the needy. She's not afraid of the snow for her  household. For all her household are clothed with Scarlet. She makes herself  coverings of tapestry. Her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in  the gates where he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen and  sells it and delivers girdles to the merchant strength and honor are her clothing  and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom. And in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looks well to the ways of her household.  And she eats not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and they call her  blessed. Her husband also and he praises her. Many daughters have done  virtuously, but thou excels them all. Favor is deceitful. beauty is vain. But a  woman that 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. Wow. Isn't she amazing?  Now we're going to go back through and read it again. But we're going to break  it down by categories. So are you ready? When I was looking at this scripture,  and trying to figure out how in the world you would do it all, I realized that all of  the different activities that she did fit into about five categories. And I'm sure that  this is a summary of her life not of one of her days. For example, one of the  categories is her husband and children. She does her husband good all the  days of her life he trusts in her. He is esteemed among other people because of  her and even maybe after he dies because it's all the days of her life. She still  does not disparage him. She also takes good care of herself. And this is not  something I've ever been good at. But she strengthens herself and she makes  sure she's clothed in nice clothing. She clothes herself with strength and honor  and opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness. And she takes care of others  the poor and the needy. She also takes care of her household. So she looks  ahead and she makes sure that they have food. She plans she does the day  before, not the day of. And she makes sure that they have clothing and that 

they're dressed well and she doesn't eat the bread of idleness. She is diligent  and she's industrious. She looks for opportunities to benefit her family and her  household and her community. And while her beauty May when she's young be  from her physical beauty. Her real beauty comes from her reverence for the  Lord. The New Testament says that it's the internal beauty of a gentle and quiet  spirit. In the next few lessons, we'll look at some of the traits as they're  demonstrated in Scripture, but for today, we end with this reflection question. Do you believe God can help you be a Proverbs 31 Woman No matter where You  are in life, no matter what has happened in the past. If you can't believe Can you ask him to help you believe? And if it sounds too hard, can you ask him to give  you the desire? This life is what God has for you as a part of his bride. He wants your loved ones to rise up and call you blessed. Let God heal and make you  whole today. Let him make you into the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman. It doesn't  matter if you have little or much. As long as you're faithful and you revrence  God, you will be blessed. Have a wonderful rest of your day. And I'll see you  tomorrow.