The Worth of Being a Virtuous Woman
Written by Jennifer P.

 

Dear Ladies, This month I would like to pose to you a few thought provoking questions. How much would you value 5 thousand dollars? That is more money than most of us have ever seen in one place in our lifetimes How much would you value a gemstone from the Crown Jewels of England? The estimated worth of one medium stone with perfect clarity from that collection would be in the 10,000’s of dollars. Yet for paper money or a rock to be worth something, it must have value to a person. The dictionary defines value with the terms worth, excellence, usefulness or importance. To value something is to regard or esteem highly. Christ illustrates this idea when He teaches on the Kingdom of God being like unto a “merchant man, seeking goodly pearls; who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” That pearl was so valuable to the merchant that he considered it worth all he had.

So what is the worth of a virtuous woman? Proverbs describes her as being far above rubies. In the Bible days, rubies were scarce, making them one of the most precious things on earth to think of. Replace rubies with what you think is the most valuable thing on earth and you will have a slight comprehension of how valuable the worth of a virtuous woman is. I asked a friend of mine how much a virtuous woman would be worth to him and he compared the importance of finding a virtuous woman to being almost second in importance to his salvation. That is very valuable. However, in today’s world virtuous woman are no longer highly esteemed. Young women are not taught the qualities that comprise the virtuous woman’s characteristics. Our women of today are very independent and seek to be equal in the man’s work force. Selfish desires are nurtured so that the thought of raising a family (much less being faithful to their husband) is replaced by pursuing a career. The proper barriers between guys and girls have been broken and many young people have lost their virginity by the time they are in high school. In this world of lusts and selfishness who can find a virtuous woman? As young women seeking God’s will for our lives we need to rethink why it is so important to be a virtuous young woman.

I had a discussion with my dad as to why the Bible gives so much emphasis on the treasure of finding and being a virtuous woman. First Dad mentioned that a virtuous woman plays a vital part in the qualifications of a pastor, elder or deacon. Have you ever thought that your being a virtuous woman affects your future husband’s ability for ministry? In I Timothy, we find the qualifications for elders and deacons. Within that list Paul says “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things” (I Tim 3:11). If the man’s wife and home are not in order, he refused the position of leadership. I would not want to be the sole reason for my husband being banned from service in the church because I am not doing what I should be. How selfish that would be for me to do my own thing and not consider how my actions are affecting those around me, especially my future husband. Proverbs says that the heart of the virtuous woman’s husband “doth safely trust in her…she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Because of her, “her husband is known in the gates (the meeting place of the important men of the day) when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” We are to uphold them as their support and helpmeet. We are to minister alongside them. How much more a husband will cherish a wife that stands by his side than one that seeks her own way.

My dad also pointed out that a woman’s virtue enables God to use her for His ministry. As a single or married woman, God has work for us to do, and if we have lost our virtue or are doing wrong, then He cannot use us. What has God planned for us to do? What ministry does He want to put us in? How will we be equipped in our later years to “teach the young woman to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands (note, this starts by being obedient to our fathers), that the word of God be not blasphemed,” if we have not started cultivating those things in ourselves now? How could God use us to spread His gospel if we have not learned to read from His Word and grow ourselves? “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea she reacheth forth her hands to the poor…strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” The list of qualifications for a virtuous woman goes on. Try doing a study sometime on the characteristics of women in the Bible that God used greatly. You will find some wonderful role models of virtuous women to help pattern your life.

The worth of a virtuous woman is priceless in the eyes of her future husband. She is priceless in the eyes of God. I have one final question. What is she worth to you? It will take your willingness to give up self and worldly pleasures to cultivate the qualities of a virtuous woman. It will take much prayer, study, soul-searching, and time. It will take asking God to show you your faults and weaknesses that they may be removed from your life. This is not something that develops overnight. “Give her the fruit of her hands…” (Prov 31:31). To have fruit a plant must be tended. What kind of virtuous woman am I cultivating in my life? What is of greatest worth to me is what I will treasure. May we all learn to value and seek to become the priceless treasure of a virtuous woman.
 

 

 

 

 

 

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