The Imperfection of the Woman of Proverbs 31
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I’ve been working behind the scenes at The Christian Ladies Network. I’ve been editing and adding images to old posts that were shared on the original site back in its prime. Some of the work I’ve had to delete for various reasons. While digging through those particular articles I found one that caused me to stop and think. It was something I’ve not considered E.V.E.R. The woman of Proverbs 31 was not perfect. The article pointed out things like she might have suffered from bedhead, bad breath, and a short temper. But is also mentioned that there are none righteous, so that meant she was not perfect.
Over the years I’ve read blogs where women were striving to be the perfect wife and mother by following Proverbs 31 or channeling their inner June Cleaver or Caroline Ingalls. I can’t help but giggle when I think about this “perfection” because the latter two were not real.
June Cleaver may have a spotless house with meals on the table at the right time and never a hair out of place – she is fiction.
Caroline Ingalls may have had to deal with the daily life of living on the prairie and dealing with incorrigible town people. But we only know what has been written about her and Hollywood made the Caroline Ingalls we all know and love – she is fiction.
The woman in Proverbs 31 was a teaching example a mother used while training her son. While we really don’t know who King Lemuel was, many believe him to be King Solomon and that would mean his mother, Bathsheba taught him what to look for in a wife. (As the mother of a son, I do the very same thing.) She used an imperfect woman to teach her son.
Many young women find themselves in a mess because they can’t live up to the Woman in Proverbs 31. Rightfully so, because they are not perfect. I’m not perfect and you’re not perfect.
This woman manages a household, family, and business without blinking an eye. She speaks kindness and gives great advice. Her family is never in need. She lives such a life her husband doesn’t have to fear what others think of him and the family. The children never show disrespect, they praise her.
But in all honesty, this woman is not perfect.
Have you ever considered All the Women of the Bible when trying to live like the Woman of Proverbs 31? There are many we can look to and learn from just by reading their stories – some good and some bad.
Here are just a few:
Ruth – A virtuous woman (Ruth 3:11)
Zipporah – She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life (Exodus 4:14-20)
Queen of Sheba – She is like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar (I Kings 10:6-10, Matthew 12:42)
The Wise Virgins and Anna – Her candle doesn’t go out at night (Matthew 25:1-12) (Luke 2:36-38)
Dorcas – She stretches her hand to the poor and needy. (Acts 9:36)
Lydia – Her clothing is silk and purple; she makes fine linen and sells it. (Acts 16:14)
Deborah, Huldah, and Pilate’s Wife – She opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness.
(Judges 4-5) (II Kings 22:14-20) (Matthew 27:19)
Rahab – She looks well to the ways of her household. (Joshua 2:2-13)
Jael – Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
(Judges 4-5:24)
While the woman of Proverbs 31 is an ideal woman we all can look to, she is not who we are suppose to be living like. We are to be living a life of Christ. He’s the only one who can help us balance out our imperfect life.
The Imperfection of the Woman of Proverbs 31
Over the years I’ve read blogs where women were striving to be the perfect wife and mother by following Proverbs 31 or channeling their inner June Cleaver or Caroline Ingalls. I can’t help but giggle when I think about this “perfection” because the latter two were not real.
June Cleaver may have a spotless house with meals on the table at the right time and never a hair out of place – she is fiction.
Caroline Ingalls may have had to deal with the daily life of living on the prairie and dealing with incorrigible town people. But we only know what has been written about her and Hollywood made the Caroline Ingalls we all know and love – she is fiction.
The woman in Proverbs 31 was a teaching example a mother used while training her son. While we really don’t know who King Lemuel was, many believe him to be King Solomon and that would mean his mother, Bathsheba taught him what to look for in a wife. (As the mother of a son, I do the very same thing.) She used an imperfect woman to teach her son.
Many young women find themselves in a mess because they can’t live up to the Woman in Proverbs 31. Rightfully so, because they are not perfect. I’m not perfect and you’re not perfect.
This woman manages a household, family, and business without blinking an eye. She speaks kindness and gives great advice. Her family is never in need. She lives such a life her husband doesn’t have to fear what others think of him and the family. The children never show disrespect, they praise her.
But in all honesty, this woman is not perfect.
The Imperfect Woman of Proverbs 31 and the Other Women of the Bible
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Here are just a few:
Ruth – A virtuous woman (Ruth 3:11)
Zipporah – She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life (Exodus 4:14-20)
Queen of Sheba – She is like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar (I Kings 10:6-10, Matthew 12:42)
The Wise Virgins and Anna – Her candle doesn’t go out at night (Matthew 25:1-12) (Luke 2:36-38)
Dorcas – She stretches her hand to the poor and needy. (Acts 9:36)
Lydia – Her clothing is silk and purple; she makes fine linen and sells it. (Acts 16:14)
Deborah, Huldah, and Pilate’s Wife – She opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness.
(Judges 4-5) (II Kings 22:14-20) (Matthew 27:19)
Rahab – She looks well to the ways of her household. (Joshua 2:2-13)
Jael – Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
(Judges 4-5:24)
While the woman of Proverbs 31 is an ideal woman we all can look to, she is not who we are suppose to be living like. We are to be living a life of Christ. He’s the only one who can help us balance out our imperfect life.
