Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies!” Proverbs 31:10

Our friend is very busy seeking that precious piece of furniture, called a wife. May the Lord direct and bless his choice. In Captain Cook’s voyage to the South Sea, some fish were caught which looked as well as others–but those who ate of them were poisoned! Alas! for the poor man who catches a poisonous wife!

 There are many such to be met with in the matrimonial seas, who look passing well to the eye. But a marriage to them proves baneful to domestic peace, and hurtful to the life of grace.

I know several people, including myself, who have great reason to be thankful to Him who sent the fish, with the money in its mouth, to Peter’s hook. He has secretly instructed and guided us where to angle; and if we have caught prizes, we owe it not to our own skill, much less to our deserts–but to His goodness!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised!” Proverbs 31:30

The poor man who catches a poisonous wife! (Letters of John Newton)

---

---

CONTEXT/COMMENTS

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Contents: Words of King Lemuel on the dangers of intemperance and the worth of a godly woman.
Characters: God, Lemuel, his mother.
Conclusion: A virtuous woman who has command of her own spirit, who is pious and industrious, who is firm for the principles of God’s Word, is a rare prize. Such a one is of unspeakable worth, and he who has such a wife, should show to her great kindness and respect, and to God, thankfulness of heart.
Key Word: Virtuous woman, v. 10.
Strong Verses: 10, 30.
Striking Facts: The scope of all the various proverbs of this book is one and the same—to direct our manner of life aright and to point us to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is “made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness.”

Keith Brooks, Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the Old Testament (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 147.

---

---

VERSE 10

Proverbs 31:10. “Who can find a virtuous woman? She is worth far more than rubies.”

Those who wish to have a good wife, ought to consider that one who deserves this character is not easily to be found; and therefore they ought to be very cautious in their choice, to be well acquainted with the disposition and behavior of those women who are to be their constant companions through life, and to address fervent supplications for the favor of him from whom alone a prudent wife is to be had.

But why are virtuous women so rarely to be found? Is the female gender more corrupted by the transgression of their first mother, than her sons? This cannot be supposed.

Women were so ill used in ancient times, that it is not to be wondered at if there were few virtuous women to be found. In our times, when the yoke of marriage is become much lighter on the woman, it may be reasonably supposed that it would be to dishonor to the female gender to be compared with the male, and that the virtues in which they are inferior, are abundantly balanced by those more lovely accomplishments in which they excel.

Men have no reason to reflect that virtue is rarely to be found in women. The imputation is not just, if it is meant to state an odious distinction between the sexes — but if it were, the fault lies as much in men as in women. Virtue is not duly esteemed — but riches and beauty are preferred to it. “Who can find a wife that will bring a large portion?” is the general question. Were the judgment of the princess by whom this character of a good wife was drawn, to be followed by the generality of men, parents would alter in a great measure their plan in educating their children; and women would endeavor to recommend themselves, not by setting off their beauty to advantage, or giving themselves out for great fortunes — but by the practice of religion and of every praiseworthy virtue.

The price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies and diamonds. Although she has no portion but her clothes, she will be preferred by a wise man, to one who is destitute of her qualifications, although she were possessed of all the riches of the east. He is a fool who marries the woman who is dressed in silk and rubies — if he would refuse the same woman in rags.

A Practical Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, By George Lawson, 1821, Chapter 31.

---

---

SERMON

---

Mother’s Day: “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother!” Lincoln – American Minute with Bill Federer