THE VIRTUOUS CHRISTIAN
(week 25/17)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Proverbs 31:10-31 KJV: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. (11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. (13) She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. (14) She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. (15) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. (16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. (17) She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. (18) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. (19) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. (20) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. (21) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. (22) She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. (23) Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. (24) She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. (25) Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. (26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (27) She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. (28) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. (29) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. (30) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (31) Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Though, the scripture here speaks of a virtuous woman, it also applies to a virtuous pastor and church collectively and a virtuous Christian individually, because the church is typified by a woman and her ‘husband’, the Lord Jesus sits among the elders as revealed in the book of Revelation.
Ephesians 5:25 KJV: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Revelation 19:7 KJV: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 5:6 KJV: And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
So, we see that ALL Christians male and female should develop and perfect the virtues of this virtuous woman:
- Spiritually strong by getting up early to pray, read and study God’s Word to be able to feed her household spiritually:
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time o come.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household,
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness
- Industrious:
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
- Loving and generous:
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
We develop and perfect these virtues by perfecting the love of God in us by the blood (Heb.13.20-21), the Word (1 Jn. 2.5) and the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 4.12-13)!
