Far Above Rubies: Proverbs 31:16

I know I threw some of you for a loop last week with doing three verses instead of one, and I apologize for the lack of warning! This week we are only looking at one verse, though.



This week we're going to look at how this verse applies to us becoming virtuous women.

One important thing that stuck out to me was that the woman is involved. She is involved in going out, considering the land that is for sale, and making that purchase for the betterment of her family. She then goes out and plants a vineyard! This woman is not a lazy woman! She is very active in taking care of her family, just as her husband should be!

I read this commentary by Adam Clark, and I thought it was very good and wanted to share with you:

Pro 31:16
She considereth a field and buyeth it -
5. She provides for the growing wants of her family. More land will shortly be needed, for the family is growing up; and having seen a field contiguous to her own, which was on sale, she estimates its worth, and purchases it a good bargain; and she pays for it by the fruit of her own industry.
6. She does not restrict herself to the bare necessaries of life; she is able to procure some of its comforts. She plants a vineyard, that she may have wine for a beverage, for medicine, and for sacrifice. This also is procured of her own labor. Whatever goes out brings its worth in; and barter, not buying, is her chief mode of traffic.

This to me goes all the way back to what I was initially saying about this section of passages, that the wife should be empowered by such scripture! We women can be providers, and do well at what we do!

Right off the bat I had to think about what a handful of friends and I do called "couponing" - maybe you do it too! Couponing these days {if you're unfamiliar with it} isn't just using coupons when you go shopping - it's taking time to hunt and gather all these coupons, and then try and figure out the best ways you can save your money while still going out and getting things that you need. A lot of the time you can get stuff free - or even have the stores literally pay you to take merchandise from their stores!

A lot of this is time consuming, but it's so worth it! And I know a lot of people look at all the loot that people get for mere pennies and say, "What are you going to do with all that?" - but think of this virtuous woman - she is thinking of the future with her purchase. A lot of this stuff doesn't have expiration dates. If you can make stockpiles of stuff that you use daily and only spend mere pennies on it - why wouldn't you?!


These verses all tie in so well together. It's obvious that the husband's heart would have to trust infinitely in his wife for her to be able to make such a purchase as this field! It's an investment in their family and their family's future. It doesn't sound like she's being selfish in these verses, either. Look at her focus here: she is all about her family.

I can't wait to read what all of you thought about this verse! Thanks as always for joining in!