Proverbs 31:30

Proverbs 31:30

30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Part of a letter I wrote: How does God define beauty? – simply; womanhood. Proverbs talks about womanhood and says, "her worth is far above jewels . . . . Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." We have been lied to. This is the standard of beauty. This is captivating. It is captivating beauty that is far above any other standard of beauty. It is a standard of what should attract us as men as we pursue to find a wife, physical attributes should no longer be the standard. And it is a standard by how we treat other women other then our wife. It is not only our duty to have this as our standard of beauty but it is also our delight and exceeding joy, as God transforms our definition of beauty to His and His passions become our own. Women need this from us, the passion of God through us, declaring to them that they as women are beautiful, more precious then jewels. Oh, how "good and acceptable and perfect" is the will of God and how wonderful is His gifts to us!


If God defines beauty as womanhood, I want to defend this as a man. The world has attacked the integrity and strength of womanhood. A man does not sit back idle while a woman is beaten, but instead steps in front of her and defends her. Women are oppressed in the church by those who will either ignore scripture or discredit the Word and the Word’s power and wisdom. On one side, oppression comes from restricting the role of a woman, till it loses its strength, treating them as worthless and not allowing them to have influence. On the other side, the role of a woman and its strength is all together denied. This picture is contrary to the picture in the scriptures, where the man is the head, but serves her as Christ would serve the church. This struggle has played out throughout history and has even entered the church. One of the most controversial scriptures regarding this is "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve." What freedom is in this verse for women! It underscores a strength and influence that God has given women. And yet some have used this to oppress women further than what this scripture allows and choked the life out of the Word of God and others have ignored it, and denied the power and strength of womanhood and power of the Word of God.


I will try to explain. Paul writes this because, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." This was God’s heart before sin entered the world. God created Adam first, because he was to be a man. We as men are to embody manhood. He was created first because he had a role to fill that was specific to a man, to lead out, to be a king, warrior, father, priest, to display the glory of God. The woman was also given strength, power, and influence, but as woman and not as a man. I said the verse in 1 Timothy 2 was freedom for a women. What does it give to a woman? It says, "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission." Our culture, paints a different picture of these words then the scripture. It is a command that provides a woman as much influence in the affairs of the church as a man. Her role is vital to the strength of the church. In 1 Peter 3:3 "Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." How strong is this gentle and quiet spirit! It is strong enough to change the hard heart of an ungodly man. "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear." If it has this affect on the ungodly man, how much more so on the godly men. A woman like this will influence the direction of the church and build the church in the Lord and challenge the church to be more. Far from being weak, it is an amazing strength. "God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" 1 Corinthians 1:27. This is an incorruptible beauty that is very precious in the sight of God. Oh, how indescribable is the wisdom of God! It is in God’s heart for a woman to display His character, glory, majesty, and strength through a "gentle and quiet spirit" and to powerfully influence the church "in silence." When 2 Timothy commands a woman to be in silence, it is not a restriction, but a command to live fully and to influence the church fully. This is a woman’s strength. This is a woman’s power. When the scripture says "in silence" it does not mean inaction, but action. If anything, this truth is more demanding on a woman than any concept of the world. As an example, Proverbs 31 talks about a woman, who had the heart of her husband and children. She was respected and trusted, not only by her husband and children, but also by the city. She was a woman who had strength and influence and helped to shape the course of her family and city, but she did this "in silence" and with a "gentle and quiet spirit". It is obvious from this chapter that this is a call to action. The scripture speaks much more on the role of women and their call to action. This letter would be long if I wrote on all that God has commanded a woman to do. I could go further into theology (I am barely touching the surface with the word of God) and history, and further into all that God has for women. I believe that women have a huge influence in the church. I have seen women turn the tide in situations in a way that no man could. God has given them a strength that we as men cannot imitate well. We need them, desperately. But I am writing this not to defend this so much, but more so to say that want to learn to be a man who encourages women to live fully. As a man I want to defend this beauty and strength that God has given women. I want to stand up when the world tries to come in and oppress her from every direction. I want to defend her honor, her integrity, her strength, her beauty, and her womanhood. And I want to honor God, in honoring my sisters, His daughters, His princesses.


God has called us men to a place of stepping up, this is our role. I want to do that and be an example of a godly man, for our women. Women need us to be men of God. I want to be this. I am writing this because I am weak and I need the support of my brother’s to live this out and I want to express this desire, so they can walk with me in this. I do not believe a man lives alone, but instead goes to battle with his brothers. I am asking you and my brothers to hold me accountable and to demand this from me."