August 10, 2016

Noble Character, Reflecting Wisdom

Proverbs 31:10-31

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her . . . .

—  Proverbs 31:10-11

As we reflect on marriage again today, let’s consider the way of wisdom described in Proverbs. Proverbs 31 famously summarizes many virtues and blessings of godly Wisdom, personified as a woman earlier in the book (see Proverbs 1:20-23; 8:1-9:12) and contrasted with another woman named Folly (see Proverbs 9:13-18).

In Proverbs 31, Wisdom is personified as a “wife of noble character,” but, as another writer has put it, “this chapter is not dictating how godly mothers and wives are supposed to act.” Instead, it shows how all God’s people can practice wisdom in their daily lives.

The life of wisdom and noble character is indeed busy! Creative in business and agri­culture, using the resources God provides, considering opportunities for growth and improvement, sharing with the poor and needy, diligently working toward the future with the sure hope of blessing—this life honors God not only with hard work but also with “faithful instruction,” so that others may see the way of wisdom and God may be praised.

Men and women who seek to honor God are guided by wisdom, one of God’s great gifts for living. If they are married, a wife and husband should work together to glorify and serve God. And we all, whether married or single, are to blossom into all God created us to be.

Father, help us all to faithfully reflect your love and design for our lives. In Jesus, our perfect example of wise living, we pray. Amen.

About the author — John Kuperus

Since he was young, John Kuperus has had a passion that everyone would know Jesus. Spreading the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) is very important to him. To be better equipped for missions, John attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied these skills with marketplace evangelism in a business he started in Sussex, New Jersey. This calling continued to follow him, so John attended seminary and became a minister in the Christian Reformed Church, serving a church in Ontario for eight years. Currently he serves as a missionary for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He witnesses Jesus changing lives as people walk out of the darkness into the light. John is married to Helen, and they have seven children.

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