Proverbs 31 Devotional Study

How to live a life of noble character

Proverbs begins with a command to fear the Lord and ends with the description of a woman who fulfills this command (Proverbs 31:10-31).

The Proverbs 31 woman is not a real woman, but an ideal. Just as wisdom and foolishness are personified as women throughout Proverbs, what it means to be a person of valor is personified in the wife of noble character.

To be noble is to show fine personal qualities or high moral principles or ideals. And by any standards, this woman has that.

She has dignity, compassion, wisdom, and many skills. She runs a profitable business, and her words carry weight at home and in the community. She has everything we could want, but it comes from a place many people would least expect.

Noble character is not a matter of rank in God’s eyes, but a matter of reverence. A wife of noble character doesn’t need to run a country, have a seat on the board or committee, or earn a six-figure salary. She doesn’t need to stress about her looks or connections because that’s not where she gets her influence. Her strength doesn’t come from what can she do for God. It comes from her reverence for God: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

The Proverbs 31 woman is a woman of God, not a woman of the world. Her accomplishments and reputation come entirely from her dedication to the Lord.

If noble character seems in short supply, it’s because it is. The scarcity of noble character is one reason it’s so valuable (Proverbs 31:10). Instead of striving for wealth, power, success, and dominance like so many, the person of noble character works with integrity, serves the poor, and gets stuff done.

A life of noble character is a life of true success and happiness. Whether seen by many or by a few, the life of noble character leaves a legacy for generations to come. And because a life of noble character is not based on who we are but Who we adore, it’s a life we can all aim to achieve.

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Reflect:
	The Words of King Lemuel
Proverbs 31:1	The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Proverbs 31:2	What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Proverbs 31:3	Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Proverbs 31:4	It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Proverbs 31:5	Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Proverbs 31:6	Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Proverbs 31:7	Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Proverbs 31:8	Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Proverbs 31:9	Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
	The Woman Who Fears the Lord
Proverbs 31:10	Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:11	The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Proverbs 31:12	She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:13	She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverbs 31:14	She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Proverbs 31:15	She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Proverbs 31:16	She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Proverbs 31:17	She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Proverbs 31:18	She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Proverbs 31:19	She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Proverbs 31:20	She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:21	She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Proverbs 31:22	She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Proverbs 31:23	Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Proverbs 31:24	She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Proverbs 31:25	Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Proverbs 31:26	She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverbs 31:27	She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:28	Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Proverbs 31:29	Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Proverbs 31:30	Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:31	Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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