Proverbs 30-31

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030-31&version=ESV

Proverbs 31:30: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

You know I have to laugh about how God works. He is truly amazing!! Back on Day 21 of this blog, I kidded Carol that I was going to talk about Jacob and Rachel. In Genesis 29:16, the Word says,

"Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance."

I kidded with Carol that I would talk about this in the blog, and describe what a Godly woman looks like. Well, I chose to write on Jacob's ladder instead. And wouldn't you know it - almost 6 months later, and I am assigned to write on Proverbs 31!!! So I didn't get off the hook after all, however, I am glad and honored that I will be able to write about the traits of a Godly woman today.

Proverbs 31:10-31 details the traits of a woman who fears the Lord, or a godly woman. I would like to just list out some of the verses that really hit home to me when reading this great piece of Scripture.

Proverbs 31:10-12: "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life."

Does not every man want for the above? A woman who does him good all the days of his life. Wow!!! That would be an unfathomable blessing to any Christian man.

Proverbs 31:20: "She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy."

A godly woman is a compassionate woman who cares for her family and for others.

Proverbs 31:25: "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come."

A godly woman is a strong woman. Not in her own strength, but in the strength of the Lord. She does not worry about the future, because she trusts in God and knows that He is sovereign and just and loving.

Proverbs 31:26: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

A godly woman is wise and speaks words of kindness and compassion.

Proverbs 31:30: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

Now I am a guy. Like all guys, or I should say most, we are visually stimulated. And while physical attraction and charm are important to most of us, this proverb tells us that they are secondary traits to be desired. The first trait a guy should look for in a woman to be his wife is someone that fears the Lord.

That brings me to two special women in my life. I have been blessed with a tremendous godly mother. She spoke words of wisdom to me and still does. She modeled a Christ-like lifestyle to me every day and she gave to those in need. I have been so blessed and continued to be blessed by my mother. She introduced the teachings of Christianity to me and she lived out Christianity and still does on a daily basis. She is not perfect, but in my book, she is real close.

The second woman I would like to tell y'all of is a women who I have recently begun dating. She truly loves the Lord. I can not believe how the Lord has blessed me with knowing such a sweet and godly woman. She is a woman who fears the Lord and yet she is beautiful and charming. I am praying for God's will in our relationship. But whatever the outcome, I am a better Christian man for knowing her.

Men, as I close today's blog, I would like to address this to you. Every guy I know, or almost every guy I know in the Bridge wants a godly wife, or they say they do. But do you really?

Men are you praying each day for a Godly wife? Are you praying that the Lord enables you to lead a God glorifying and holy life that is pleasing to him by the power of the Holy Spirit? How is your prayer life? Are you showing love to your brethren? Are you immersing your mind in the Word and seeking to distance yourselves to from the evils and trivialities of this world, and instead focusing on the things above, not on the things below?

I, myself for so long,was not doing these things. Men you have to ask yourselves: If you are not seeking to live a life for Christ now and obey and honor him with your life, why would He want to mess up a godly woman's life when He pairs you with her? The man would drag the woman down.

I am in no way saying that I have arrived. But I have begun to try to really seek the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. He has given me clarity of mind and discernment. He has given me many opportunities to serve him. He has enabled me to grow in prayer and in the study of His Word. And now, He is enabling me to date a woman who loves Christ and others. She is beautiful in appearance to me, but more important than that, her heart for God just awes me.

Over the last year, I have prayed daily that I might become the man of God He desires me to be. He has really changed my heart. In fact it is not just a change, it has been a transformation. (See Romans 12:1-2) I have also prayed this for many of my friends, that they might become the men of God that He desires for Himself. And I have prayed for myself and my friends that God would bring Godly women to our lives, so that we might enjoy the blessings of Christian marriage.

Men, run hard after Christ. Submit your entire life and being to him. Ask the Lord to cultivate and grow the fruit of the Spirit in your lives. And, unless you have been given the gift of singleness, strive to become the godly man that God wants and needs you to be in order to be the godly husband that a godly woman desires and needs.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.