Proverbs, chapter thirty-one, verses ten through thirty-one, describe the ideal wife and mother. Her whole life centered around a reverent fear of God, as in verse thirty. “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” She has compassion for those in need, as in verse twenty, “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” And her faithfulness and love toward her family, as in verse twenty-seven, “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”
The virtuous woman may not have all of these values described in the theme verses mentioned in any one wife and mother. However, each wife can seek to serve God, her family, and others in these kinds of ways with the ability and material resources that God has given her. There are many women today who have at least one, while some do not have any of them. However, there is always the opportunity to begin a change to become one, as stated in the theme verses. Believers should ask God for help and direction to develop these qualities gradually.
The theme title “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” The values described in verses eleven through thirty-one go way beyond the amount of this gemstone. A ruby can financially meet the needs of a husband or family, but is not able to care for the person or a group of people throughout life successfully. Women believers in Christ should ponder these verses because they are the potential mothers of all living for the future. For a woman to become virtuous will need commitment and depend on God to obtain such godly values.