"Who can find a virtuous
woman? For her price is far above rubies" (Prov. 31:10). The virtuous
woman here means a woman of strength or valor. It is virtue in the same sense
as the virtue that is to be added to faith in 2 Pet. 1:5. The fact that her
husband can "safely trust in her," knowing that "she will do him
good and not evil all the days of her life" (verses 11,12) assumes her
sexual chastity as well as her economic prudence and general loyalty.

Her husband has "no need of
spoil" (verse 11)—either the spoils of warfare or extra income in general.
She uses her time and financial resources to such advantage that she adds to
the family income (verses 16,24) rather than to the family debt.

"She rises also while it is
yet night" (very early in the morning), "her candle goes not out by
night," and she "eats not the bread of idleness" (verses
15,18,27). She has no time for aimless "just looking" in shopping
malls; initiating long, pointless telephone calls; hours of television viewing;
or romance and mystery novels (even Christian versions thereof). On the other
hand, she always has time to help the poor, the needy (financially,
emotionally, or spiritually), her husband, her children, her extended family,
and the neighbors (verses 20,26,27). She is a woman of wisdom and kindness as
well as strength (verse 26), which means that her advice and counsel are sought
by others. Such women as Phoebe, "a succorer of many," Mary,
"who bestowed much labor on us," and Persis, "who labored much
in the Lord," are particular, named women (Rom. 16:1,6,12) who are New
Testament examples of this ideal woman in Proverbs 11.

This strong, wise, industrious,
efficient woman does not follow the fashion trends of the day that are often
expensive, ridiculous, and immodest; rather, she provides clothes for her
family that are practical, sturdy, attractive, and modest (verses 21,22).

"Favor is deceitful, and
beauty is vain:but a woman who fears the LORD,
she shall be praised" (verse 30). She flies in the face of advice usually
given to women and develops inner beauty (which, like wisdom, begins
with the fear of the LORD), rather than
outer beauty. She does not neglect her appearance, but neither does she lavish
hours of time and great expenditure on it as she is urged to do by the popular
media.

In addition to being a description
for women to emulate, this passage is a message of advice to young men
contemplating marriage. "Who can find a virtuous woman?"
(verse 10). Evidently they were as scarce 3,000 years ago as they are now. Yet
the results are worth the search. Young men, you will be happier over the years
in every aspect of marriage if you choose a wise, industrious, strong, godly,
woman rather than one with a pretty face but immature, underdeveloped mind and
spirit.

FRAGMENT  Advice to Christian Women. True
spirituality and genuine Christian living is its own recommendation, and
depends upon nothing extraneous for its real value. Still, since there are
those who have mistaken views of the nature of Christianity, as if it were at
war with the gifts of the intellect, it would be well to disabuse their minds,
and by your attainments and accomplishments, to convince them that piety is
not, as they may suppose, another name for ignorance. For their sakes, then, as
well as for your own profit, cultivate your minds by study. Acquire an eager
thirst for knowledge. Be fond of reading, and of the best kind of reading.
Disprove the slander that girls are only fond of tales and novels, of stories
of love, female adventures, or heroism. Make it clear that those who are the
children of God are most eager to become acquainted with all the works of their
Heavenly Father—both His holy Word and the wonders and glories of His creation.
With a broad base of knowledge (particularly of world history and customs, and
of the Greek and Hebrew languages) you will relish all the more this bread of
life that came down from heaven—the Word of God. Inspiration has garnished the
pages of Scripture with beauties that are hidden from eyes whose vision has not
been strengthened by such knowledge.

(From Female Piety by the
Puritan author, John Angell James, 1860, reprinted by
Soli Deo Gloria Publications.)