The Proverbs 31 Woman
This is regarded by many to be the description of the ultimate Christian woman.
I think she sounds like a working mom, not a stay-at-home mom. She seems to have a staff, not unlike this Alpha Mom.
Though I could be wrong. I'm just saying.
I think she sounds like a working mom, not a stay-at-home mom. She seems to have a staff, not unlike this Alpha Mom.
Though I could be wrong. I'm just saying.
posted by Melodee at Monday, July 25, 2005
8 Comments:
wow I'm going back to read that link when I have more time. it looks good.
I have never had the Prov. 31 woman as a role model. There, I said it.
She's in the Old Testament. Anabapist are sometimes accused as weighting the New Testament over the Old Testament.
Here is place where that kind of theology works for me. :-)
The Prov. 31 woman is an ideal of what we should work towards. No one woman is going to completely fit that description. She reminds me of an ancient version of Martha Stewart. However, just because the Prov. 31 woman seems too perfect doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve ourselves to be more like her. Yes, she had servants but so do we: all of our large appliances, our cars, USPS, internet, etc.
If the Old Testament is null and void, then why do we even have it and why did God bother with it. Matthew 5:17,18 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
As for the "Alpha Mom," I had read this article previously and I feel really sorry for her. Instead of spending time to get to know her child, she hired a staff to deal with him. A helpful Grandmother, Mother's Helper, etc. is great but does a Mother really need a night nurse, nanny, and babysitter? If you need that much help for one child, why have children? It seems silly to me.
I am a "working mom" with "a staff" but I am neither alpha mom nor Proverbs 31. Not even CLOSE! More like "tripping over herself more often than not" mom.
Lookie here, a little exchange of ideas and opinions. I like it! (Elizabeth, I'd have to disagree with you regarding the value of women in the Bible. Perhaps they were not valued in the society of the day, but Jesus went out of his way to reach out to women. And the Old Testament has examples of women who were not mere rocks.)
Now, carry on. I'll leave this discussion to you.
Over the course of my life, I hope I manage to hit on all of the Prov. 31 woman's ideals.
She used her gifts. Good for her.
She had her own little business. Good for her.
Good for her for all those things she was able to do, and did.
I don't see were it's a commandment to BE her, but if in the end I WAS like her, I'd consider myself successful.
I also have always thought that she never knew this about herself. Other people saw it in her, and blessed her for it.
I've gotten awfully sick of those who think they are her, or even could be. It seems to me to be a Catch 22. If you think you're her, you're not. If you don't think you are, you are probably closer to it than you think.
I'm not over-keen on the Proverbs 31 woman either. It does say she's rarer than rubies, and I guess they were pretty rare, so there aren't too many of them around.
More importantly, I don't think she's even supposed to be a role-model. Christians are supposed to become more like Jesus, not like anyone else in the Bible. Sure, this woman did a good job but she had servants and dressed her children in fine linen, and her husband was one of the leading citizens, so she must have been fairly wealthy.
It's true that in worldwide terms we're all wealthy in the west, and that we have modern 'servants' such as washing machines and food processors, but life isn't the same. I'm happy to admire this woman, as I admire other people who made a success of their lives, and then move on. I'm not going to try to emulate her because it wouldn't work.
It is not that the NEW TESTAMENT is Superior to the OLD TESTAMENT..nor are we to neglect the OLD TESTAMENT in our studies. THE Entire Bible is profitable for our instruction.
Regarding the Proverbs 31 woman...It is my opinion that many Christian women are threatened by the seemingly "IMpoSSible standards" presented here... and that is to be understood. In the days of raising little ones it is ridiculous for one person to accomplish all that is implied in the P-31 woman's daily tasks...and yet the Ideal is presented here.
Truly if unlimited energy were available I believe that many of us would attempt to become this IDEAL and Most Noble woman. I mean she is THE supreme Homemaker and she is industrious...
If this was indeed SOLOMONS mother that he wrote about...WELL, That would mean that she lived in a ROYAL HOUSEHOLD...and she had servants galore...SO, take the pressure off of your exhausted selves...As women of GOD...we too are royal...and do the best you can....That is all you can do.
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