Virtue is a godly characteristic!
I. Introduction: Mother’s Day…
- A woman that fears the Lord shall be praised! (Proverbs 31:31)
- Don’t take the wonderful qualities of godly women in our lives for granted!
- What are some of the things that you appreciate about your wife, or mother, or grandmother? Their good qualities and virtues? Tell them today… (Do it while you are able…)
- We are thankful for our mother’s! They constantly show us love in so many ways – cooking and in the kitchen, clothes and laundry, protection, care when sick, help and loving support in so many ways…
- When we have wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters that love the Lord – we are so blessed! Show your love and appreciation for them (with words and thoughtful acts! – not just thoughts).
- A prudent wife is from the Lord (a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is a gift and blessing (AMP)] from the Lord.– Proverbs 19:14
- “an insightful wife” – CEB
- “a sensible wife” – CJB / “a wife with good sense” – EHV
- “a good wife” – ERV
- “a wise wife is a gift from the Lord.” – ICB
- “a congenial spouse” MSG
- “an understanding wife” – NLV
- There’s most of a chapter in the book of Proverbs commending a “virtuous woman” that we will be considering today…
II. VIRTUE is a godly characteristic.
- Luke 6:19 –and the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for there went VIRTUE “dunamis” – (miraculous power) out of Him, and healed them all.
- Acts 1:8 – And you shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto me…
- With great POWER gave the apostles witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33)
- Philippians 4:8 –Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any VIRTUE and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
- The Greek word for VIRTUE in this verse is “arete” – valor; excellence, praise, virtue)
- “if there is any virtue and excellence” AMP
- “if there is any moral excellence” CSB
- “if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable” CEB
- “what is truly worthwhile” – CEV
- “ If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] – EXB
- “think about the things that are good” – ICB
- “if there is any excellence of character” – LEB
- “dwell on the fine, good things in others” – TLB
- “gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly” – MSG
- “if any worthiness” – YLT
- “If they are good” – WE
- “If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for” – NLV
- 2 Peter 1:3,5 – as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and VIRTUE, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [a]corruption that is in the world through lust.5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith VIRTUE, to VIRTUE knowledge…
III. Proverbs 31 – “The Virtuous Woman”(excerpts and summaries).
- SHE IS VERY VALUABLE!
- Vs 10 –Who can find a VIRTUOUS wife? For her worth is far above rubies. (she is more precious than jewels – her value is far above rubies or pearls – AMP)
- SHE IS PRAISE-WORTHY! HER FAMILY PRAISES HER VIRTUES!
- Vs. 30 –Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
- Vs. 28 – Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
- Vs. 30 –Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
- SHE IS EXCELLENT, and strives for EXCELLENCE!
- Vs. 29 – Many daughters have done VIRTUOUSLY, but you EXCEL them all.
- SHE IS TRUSTWORTHY!
- Vs. 11,12 – Her husband (and family) trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely…
- “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.”
- SHE IS A DILIGENT, WILLING WORKER THAT IS FRUITFUL AND FULL OF GOOD WORKS! (not slothful or lazy)
- Vs 13 – She… willingly works with her hands.
- Vs. 27 – She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
- Vs. 31 – Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
- SHE PREPARES AND PROVIDES FOOD FOR HER HOUSEHOLD
- Vs. 15 – She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household,…
- SHE IS STRONG AND MATURE
- Vs. 17 – She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.
- Vs. 25 – Strength and honor are her clothing;
- SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE LIGHT IN THE NIGHT
- Vs. 18 – her lamp does not go out by night.
- (Consider the parable of the 10 virgins in Matt 15 – the lamps of the foolish went out in the night)
- SHE IS COMPASSIONATE OF THE POOR AND NEEDY
- Vs. 20 – She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
- SHE IS NOT AFRAID
- Vs. 21 – She is not afraid … (snow). – of other things…
- SHE IS INDUSTRIOUS AND MAKES GOOD THINGS
- Vs. 19 – She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.
- Vs. 22 – She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
- Vs 24 – She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants.
- Vs. 18 – She perceives that her merchandise is good,
- HER WORDS ARE WISE AND GOOD
- Vs. 26 – She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
- SHE PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE AND HAS FORESIGHT
- Vs. 25 – … She shall rejoice in time to come.
- HER HUSBAND IS KNOWN IN THE GATES
- Vs. 23 – Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
- (saying – “behind every good man is a good woman”) – not in the Bible, but there is a lot of truth in it, generally speaking… she does him good all the days of her life – assisting and supporting and with loving teamwork… she is an honor and not a shame
- Vs. 11,12 – 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.
- SHE’S A GOOD STEWARD
- Vs 16 – She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.
- Vs. 18 – She perceives that her merchandise is good,
