RUBIES CANNOT BUY HER.

Where is the woman whose value is greater than rubies? ‘who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.’ (Proverbs 31:10) Does she exist?

Virtue includes meekness, kindliness, love, self-effacement, purity, helpfulness, humility, grace, inner beauty, piety, sincerity, steadfastness.

Does this woman live in your home as a model of excellence? Does God expect us to exhibit these attributes?

Scripture clearly presents that a woman of virtue does exist, for ‘the heart of her husband safely trusts in her.’ (Proverbs 31:11). While the qualities may appear daunting, each becomes achievable through the power of the Holy Spirit.

MEEK: willing to listen to others, never forward, thoughtful of another’s feelings and difficulties, humble and submissive.

KIND: sympathetic, understanding, putting herself in the position of those hard-pressed, gentle, benevolent, and affectionate.

LOVING: never resentful, even though she may have been hurt, loving the unlovely, with the love of God flowing from her life.

PURE: thinking on that which is lovely, pure, honest, of good report.

Sensitive to anything apart from her Lord, sincere, undefiled.

GRACIOUS: agreeable, pleasing, courteous, merciful, full of grace.

PIOUS: joyful in spiritual values, devout and dutiful.

SINCERE: The Greek equivalent translates ‘without wax’. The ornate urns of Bible days were fashioned of alabaster or marble. To mark their high quality they were branded ‘sincere’ – ‘without wax’. Wax devalued the vessel. So the righteous woman is sincere, free from pretence, and without offence till the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:10)

God’s expectations may seem impossible, but our God is worthy of obedience to His high standards. He knows our inadequacy and inability so He sent the Holy Spirit to enable us to be women whose value supersedes rubies.

I knew an Indonesian woman whose radiant life excelled rubies. She had delivered 25,000 babies (mostly difficult confinements) in one area. Often calls came from villages at impossible hours. Yet she willingly, sacrificially and gladly travelled anywhere to help labouring mothers, so radiating the life of Christ.

In Bu Pri the centre and secret of her virtuous life was Jesus Christ. Not only were the everlasting arms beneath her, the love of God surrounding her, but Jesus Christ lived within her through the Holy Spirit. Her life outshone rubies, as she radiated Christ in every thought, word and action. The most virtuous woman I ever met had dark skin and wore a sarong, blouse and sandals, and travelled to her patients in a pony-cart. I was blessed with her competent help, and her quiet songs about Jesus during the delivery of our fifth daughter, Priscilla.

God is no respecter of persons. He enables all women to be of noble virtue. When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He took the weight and punishment of our sins. He rose to give us new life – resurrection life, which becomes personal by faith, and in fact.

As you desire to be a virtuous woman, read the Maker’s instructions.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your character traits, that are not Christ-centred.

Recognise and admit them, repent and pray. He will give them to you.

‘Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, come in today, come in to stay.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

God blesses the woman with His power and love to make her a woman whose value is greater than rubies.