Today I went to a bank not my own in order to deposit money in someone else's account. I was helped by a young woman who had these verses taped to her cubicle...
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life...Favor is deceitful, beauty is vain, but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:10-12, 30-31)
These verses are so familiar, but they got me pondering.
...the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life...
Adds a new dimension to 'til death do us part, doesn't it!
Does the heart of my husband safety trust in me? Does he know I will do him good and not evil, all the days of my life?
What exactly might that look like?
I think of things like reputation. Do I guard my husband's reputation? Do I keep personal, intimate things between the two of us? Am I discrete? There is a difference between asking for counsel from trusted sources and venting our dirty laundry to girlfriends and family. A virtuous woman knows the difference. When I am tempted to complain to a friend, I will often think about how my complaining will present my husband to the person I am talking to. Is it going to lower their opinion of him? Then, probably for the most part, I should keep it to myself.
What about finances? That's another area of trust. Can my husband rest confidently in the fact that I will be frugal and prudent with his hard earned resources? Or do I consistently blow our budget?
What about relationships? Do I watch my interactions with other men, making sure they are always above reproach? Do I guard my heart, making sure that I am not desiring someone else's greener grass?
Doing good and not evil all the days of my life. I think this would include conscious and unconscious choices in every day life. Am I doing him good? But, I also think about the tongue. And how in times of anger, vindictiveness can creep in. The desire to hurt someone like they've hurt you. A verbal lashing. But, this doing good would rule that out. It would include a kind and forgiving disposition.
We could think that the fruit of the Virtuous woman's hands would be the food, clothing, business endeavors, etc. All the things listed in the previous verses.
But, I'm betting the fruit is more than that. It is the positive results of what we've invested in people and relationships. Fearing the Lord. Respecting our husbands. Raising our children. It's our interactions and our heart, more than having all our external ducks in a row.
How safe does your husband feel in your hands?
