Proverbs 31

Bible Passage:  Proverbs 31

We have come to the end of our look at the book of Proverbs this year.  Are you growing a little wiser?

When we started the year, we learn that the book of Proverbs begins with a call to wisdom.

In Proverbs 9:10 we read, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” 

Now at the end of Proverbs, in 31:30, we see this having been lived out in the life of a woman, described in great detail here:  “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

The fear of the LORD is the foundation on which this Proverbs 31 wife has built her home.  And it is certainly what we should all do.

But my intention today is not to talk about the woman (since we have spoken about her every time we did Proverbs in the last few years).  Instead, let me introduce you to the Proverbs 31 Husband 🙂

What do I know about him?

Well, I think this goes without saying, he is extremely blessed to have such a wife.  And I know and extremely thankful that I have as well 🙂

But let’s see what Proverbs 31 says about him…

¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:11-12

The husband trusts the wife totally.

When you read about what the wife does – making purchases and investments, supervising the staff, helping the poor… you can imagine that she would not be able to do all that without the support of her husband.  And coupling that with the wisdom from God, she is able to do good to her life partner all the days of her life.

Mutual trust in a marriage is a wonderful thing.

And I believe that one of the reason that she is able to do all the things described here is because she knows that her husband has full confidence in her abilities.  And this gives her the confidence to go out and do it.

I have seen cases where the husband does not trust her wife to make any decisions.  And he criticizes her every time she makes a mistake.  This made the wife lose confidence and retreat further and further into her shell.  But I have also seen husbands who are very encouraging to the wife.  And this trust and confidence in turn makes her shine in what she does.

Husbands take note:  It is extremely important to trust your wife and have confidence in her!

²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

~ Proverbs 31:23, 31

The two verses speaks about what happens at the city gate.

In those days, the city gate was the place where important official businesses were conducted.

The husband is well known at the gates and he sits among the elders.  This shows the respect he has in his community.  And this respect can certainly not be there if his own house is not in order.  The wife was similarly respected in the community as well.

This showed that they were a team – doing things that brought mutual respect and honour… and appreciation by those around.  There is nothing better than both husbands and wives worshiping, serving and leading the family together in the house of God.

I certainly can attest to that… and I do hope that everyone gets to experience that as well.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.” 

~ Proverbs 31:28-29

Husbands … have you praised your wife lately?  Have you thanked her?  Did you tell her how much you appreciate and love her?

You did?  Great!  Because that is what the Proverbs 31 husband did!

And I believe that it is because he did it, that was the reason why her children did so similarly.

I remembered when I was young and I was in my neighbour’s car. I could not believe my ears when I heard how the kids were talking to their mother.  They were using vulgar words and were abusive.  On thinking back, I realized that actually how they spoke or behaved was exactly how their father treated their mother.  So if a husband insults his wife, there is a tendency that the children would do the same.

That makes for strife in a home, not harmony

But if the husband expresses openly his love and praise of his wife, this can certainly lead to a loving relationship for the whole family.

It is a beautiful picture to end our reading of Proverbs.  And the foundation of it all is the fear of the Lord.

Without God in the picture, how true are these words of wisdom from another book…

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;

~ Psalm 127:1a

May we continue to live in God’s wisdom and love.