Part V
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies…. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
Proverbs 31:10,18
I have heard many sermons preached about the Proverbs 31 Wife, or Wife of Noble Character over the years. There are numerous blogs and even entire ministries built around this particular passage of scripture. These messages generally focus on the woman’s character and duties as a wife and mother; I don’t want to diminish that focus in any way. It is both valid and important.
However, there is a major aspect of the Proverbs 31 Woman that is widely glossed over, and even totally ignored. This relates to her business acumen and the way she manages her finances. Here are the facts. Of the twenty-two verses in the passage, seven are comments for the reader’s benefit or general praise from her husband and children (E.g. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her – vs28). While these are interesting, they don’t actively describe her character. The remaining fifteen verses focus explicitly on her character and actions.
Of the fifteen verses that actively describe her character and actions, only two actually focus on how she acts toward her husband. Another three focus on how she cares for her children and household….
And no less than six verses focus on how she conducts her financial life. How can we, in good conscience, read this passage about the ‘Ideal Godly Woman’ and simply disregard 40% of what the Bible tells us about her!
She Sees That Her Trading is Profitable
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
Proverbs 31:18
The crux of this verse — she sees that her trading is profitable — appears to be book-ended between two verses that, once again, commend her work ethic.
While it has not received a post of its own it is noteworthy that the preceding verse highlights the fact that she is a hard worker; she sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (vs 17). Then the second half of verse 18, once again, showcases the Proverbs 31 Business Woman’s dedication and capacity for hard work; her lamp does not go out at night.
The fact that her lamp does not go out at night demonstrates the fact that she continues her work long after sunset. However, the verse also shows us the promise. Her diligence and effort pays off when she sees that her trading is profitable.
If anyone comes into this chapter thinking that success will be easy, and that Proverbs 31 might offer some sort of get-rich-quick scheme, they should check that thought at the door. Let’s remember that Proverbs 31 is not about being successful, financially or otherwise. It is about being Godly, and building a Godly character. It just so happens that those character traits that make this woman Godly, and for which the Bible commends her, are the same ones that make her so successful in business.
As Proverbs 31 shows us, she rises early to run her household and her business. She makes and sells garments for a living. She invests in fields. She plants vineyards and attends to them. She sets about her work vigorously and her lamp does not go out at night. And in the end she reaps her reward when she sees that her trading is profitable.
.