The Virtues of the Bride
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies,” Proverbs 31:10.
The Virtues of the Bride
Father God, we thank you for the great deliverances you have effected in the lives of your children. We ask you Lord for the grace to be able to walk with you in the revelation of the bride of Christ.
Proverbs 31 describes that man and woman of God who is the bride of Christ, the Christian for whom Jesus the Bridegroom is looking. Verse 10 contains searching words: “Who can find a virtuous woman?” The Lord is seeking for the gifting and virtues He has put inside us to manifest. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that she shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life,” verses 11–12.
The Lord sees that she cannot be influenced by money to deviate from His commandment. Her husband, her permanent husband, the Lord Jesus, can trust her. The bride of Christ will work in the best interest of the Lord, her husband all the days of her life. “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens,” Proverbs 31:13–15. The bride of Christ is industrious. She works willingly with her hands; her fingers are not manicured into impracticality. She diligently provides food for her household so that mealtimes are not an emergency. “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard,” verse 16. She is a real estate consultant who buys properties and a farmer who plants her gardens. “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 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,” verse 17–19. She is quality conscious so the products she markets are the best. She is imaginative and productive twenty-four hours a day. She is therefore an investor. “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy,” verse 20. With all these resources, she can give to the poor. “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. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come,” verses 21–
25. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness,” verse 26–27. She allows the Holy Spirit, which is wisdom, to speak through her in truth and in kindness, and does not succumb to idleness. “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” verse 28. Do your children call you blessed? There is still time. “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruits of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates,” verse 29–31.
I pray in the name of Jesus that as the bride of Christ you will use the Spirit of God to open your mouth in wisdom, reach out to others, and treat people with kindness. I pray that you look well to the ways of your household and that you eat not the bread of idleness. The bread of idleness is the food you did not labour for physically, spiritually, or financially. If you are the bride of Christ, the freeloading must stop. I pray that God will wake you up to the reality that you are meant to give charity, not to receive it. There are times we need help, but taking food stamps and other handouts should be a route to your next level, not your permanent address. You should not be an expert on freeloading benefits. Pray that you will be one that will lend to nations.
If you are a Christian and you have received the Holy Spirit, you are not to be dormant with that Spirit. O living God, give your children the grace to do good and not evil unto you all the days of their lives. Let them work in your best interest and be industrious for you.
Have you seen this woman? God has put the resources to be all of this in you and He is looking for you. May the gifts manifest in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer Points:
Father God, we thank you for the benefits and priviledges of this day. Lord let your Word work in our lives. Give us the grace to be so productive that in every realm it will be clear that we are your children in Jesus’ name. Amen.
