Vs. 24: "She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes."
This verse is another picture of a diligent woman who contributes to her family's needs and uses her skills to contribute financially.
Vs. 25: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
This is one of my favorite verses in Proverbs 31 because it shows a woman who is anxiety free because she trusts the Lord and knows who holds the future. She clothes herself with the Lord. Think about it...when you get ready in the morning and put clothes on, it is deliberate. You know that what you put on others will see. Do people around you see Christ when they look at you? She has no anxiety because she knows her family is well taken care of. Also, this is another picture of diligence as she has already provided for her family so she does not need to worry. I love when it says "she can laugh at the days to come" because it shows the absolute trust she has in the Lord. When we trust ourselves and look for security in relationships, in money, and other people, we will in no way be able to laugh at the days to come because our security and hopes are in things of the world that WILL fail us. When we entrust our lives to Christ and trust He has a plan (which is ALWAYS way better than ours!) then we can live at ease, no matter what obstacles come our way.
Vs. 26: "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the fact that she speaks with wisdom shows she fears the Lord and lives for Him. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. She is not someone who slanders people and gossips, but someone who encourages others and speaks wisdom into their lives. She is someone people can come to to receive instruction. She is not foolish but someone who is so in tune with the Word of God that her instruction flows from the Biblical instruction the Lord provides.
Vs. 27: "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Just as a spy watches out for enemies and ways to protect others, a Proverbs 31 woman watches over her family and carefully watches out for ways to protect them from dangers. This would include things like watching over her children and not allowing them to be involved with people who are not of the same mind or people who could drag them away from their relationship with Christ. She is not idle but always diligent.
Vs. 28: "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
Her family praises her not because of what she has done, but because who she is in Christ. There is nothing that is truly praiseworthy outside of Christ. She is the Proverbs 31 woman because of who she has become in Christ. She trust Him, finds all security in Him, and obeys who the Bible has called her to be.
Vs. 29: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Sure, there are good moms and women who are not Christians, but because the Proverbs 31 woman is a woman after God's own heart and puts her family above herself as she seeks after the Lord, she surpasses them all!
Vs. 30: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
Unfortunately we live in a culture that praises beauty. People are getting face lifts and all kinds of treatments to look younger and be more beautiful. Women are obsessed with beauty and makeup and believe they can only be secure once they are beautiful (according to the world's standards). The truth is, those who are beautiful and young with flawless skin and have golden legs like an angel are going to turn into wrinkly prunes with sagging faces and crows feet. Why seek after that which is fleeting and short lived, when you could seek after something that is eternal and will not fail you? The truth is, every single girl is beautiful. God created you with diversity and made you beautiful in His eyes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made-He never once said "Oh, I think I will make this little morsel ugly and insecure"....that's not how our Father works. He is a jealous God who wants your time and energy focused on Him...the one who will NEVER fail or leave you, even when you are a wrinkly prune.
"Use truth for your lips, prayer for your voice, pity for your eyes, charity for your hands, uprightness for your figure, and love for your heart."
Vs. 31: "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
She does not use her good deeds to be seen by man and to receive praise from the world, but it is for her Heavenly Father. Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards those who diligently seek Him.
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