Proverbs 31:24-25

Proverbs 31:24

She maketh fine linen and selleth it,  and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

One thing this verse does is to settle the argument as to whether or not it is biblical for women to work.  We knew from verse 16, that the Proverbs 31 Woman had her own earnings and invested them.  Now verse 24 gives us a better idea of how she got her earnings.

From verse 13, we learned that the Excellent Wife enjoyed working with fibers and textiles.  From verse 19, we also learned that linen (which she makes garments from) is made from one of the fibers mentioned, the flax plant.  Now we learn that she earns her money through these same pursuits, by making garments of linen and belts which she sells through local merchants.

We’ve also known from verse 18 that she knew how to handle her finances wisely.  It would seem that all of these things together put the Proverbs 31 Woman into the mythical “Superwoman” status of having it all, with success in both family and career.  So how does she do it?

Firstly, she knows her priorities and organizes her day accordingly.

There would be no blessings and praises if she neglected her family and their needs.  We also know that her business is not a point of contention between her and her husband.  Rather, she has his respect and trust.

The other key to her success I think, is that she has a home business.  Why is that important?  Because for one thing, it is one of the most time efficient jobs one can have. 

If she based her business elsewhere, she would have overhead, childcare, transportation, and other costs which she doesn’t have by working out of her home.

Most importantly, her home business makes her available for the management andguardianship of her home, as well as for the needs of her family. 

Combine these two factors with a willingness to work hard, and we see the keys to the Proverbs 31 Woman’s success. 

 Prov. 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future. 

Even though the Proverbs 31 Woman dresses well and takes care of her appearance (see verse 22), we learn here that the important things about her appearance are inner qualities.

Strength = boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong.

We studied this word previously, in Prov. 31:17, where we learned that it also implies strength of character.

Dignity = magnificence, that is, ornament or splendor: beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty

When we studied Titus 2:3-5, we took a close look at theh word “dignity“.  We learned that in the Greek, “dignity” is a quality which inspires reverence and awe  It refers to a self-respect, not to stoically never cracking a smile.  From the Hebrew word above, we get a much broader sense of how that applies to the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Clothing = clothing, garment, apparel, raiment

We took a look at this word also, when we studied Prov. 31:22.  At that time we learned that the word  “clothing” can be symbolic as well as literal.

But can a person have dignity and strength and be gentle and quiet?  Absolutely.  How is that?  Because true self confidence doesn’t need to prove itself to anyone.  It’s not what comes out of a woman’s mouth that commends her, it’s her attitude.

Even though we know that the Proverbs 31 Woman dresses expensively, we see that biblically, it’s not what’s on the outside that makes her excellent, it’s what’s on the inside.  The Excellent Woman wears her self confidence and self respect like a suit of clothes.  They are obvious to everyone who sees her.

An extension of her self confidence. She has been faithful to work hard and the reward of this is freedom from worry and fear about the future.

It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to confidently laugh at the future.  We have been guaranteed a bright, eternal future.  We have been guaranteed eternal security (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30).  We have the sure promise of God that the future ("things to come") cannot separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38).  In fact, in 1 Corinthians 3:22 we learn that we possess the future!  It is ours!  The future belongs to us.  God has marked out a glorious future for every child of God, that we should be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

How confident we can be!  We do not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.  We know that everything that happens to us in the future is for God's glory and for our good (Romans 8:28).  We are fully persuaded that the God who began a good work in us will complete that good work in the future (Philippians 1:6).