The Foolishness of the Proverbs 31 Woman

" But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people , and your God, my God."

Ruth 1:16

This is the woman I aspire to be. She is one of many exemplary examples of great godly women in our blessed bible. Ruth exudes many characteristics similar to the ones King Lemuel's mother describes in Proverbs 31:10-31, which is our classic example of the perfect godly woman. In fact, she has eight characteristics which are similar to the Proverbs 31 woman (all of these were taken from my readings of John MacArthur's bible study on Ruth):

1. Devoted to her family (Ruth 1:15-18 and Prov. 31:10-12, 23)
2. Delighted in her work (Ruth 2:2 and Prov 31:13)
3. Diligent in her labor (Ruth 2: 7, 17, 23 and Proverbs 31:14-18, 19-21, 24 and 27)
4. Dedicated to godly speech (Ruth 2:10, 13 and Prov. 13:26)
5. Dependent on God (Ruth 2:12 and Prov 31:25b, 30)
6. Dressed with care (Ruth 3:3 and Prov. 31:22, 25a)
7. Discreet with men (Ruth 3:6-13, and Prov.31:11,12,23)
8. Deliver blessings (Ruth 4:14, 15 and Proverbs 31:28, 29, 31)

John MacArthur says the word "virtuous" in Proverbs 31:10 is the same Hebrew word used of Ruth in Ruth 3:11. It is also theorized that King Lemuel's mother is actually Bathsheba which would make Ruth, King Lemuel's great-grandmother. Therefore, Bathsheba would have verbally passed Ruth's spotless reputation along to David's son Solomon. MacArthur further theorizes that "Lemuel" means "Devoted to God" and that this could have been a nickname for Solomon. He refers to Jedediah in 2 Samuel 12:25 in order to back up his theory.

Take this as you deem fit. I, personally, like it.

This intrigues me because accomplishing the traits of the Proverbs 31 woman is an impossible feat, but to be given an example in human form, Ruth, makes this gigantic pill easier to swallow.
Furthermore, Ruth is not as perfect as the portrayal of the Proverbs 31 woman. She is a Moabitess by birth. The Moabites were infamous for child sacrifice, pagan and idol worship amongst other dastardly deeds that caused our Lord to weep. Ruth, of course, marries a Jewish man who then leaves her widowed. This woman abandons all worldly security and any means of survival to follow her also widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. This is all common knowledge and what else is common knowledge is that during these days widowed women often became destitute and died. They couldn't work, would probably have a hard time remarrying. Through the glasses of the natural man it seemed certain Ruth and Naomi were going to die and Orpah was the wiser of the daughter-in-laws because she remained in Moab.

The passage in Ruth 1:16 reminds me of what many believers go through when we choose to abandon our worldy securities and our lifestyle in order to pursue our calling in Christ Jesus. One filled with comforts in the Spirit, of faith and of the unseen (Hebrews 11:1. )

My loved of this world call me a fool. The decisions I make as a wife, as a mother, as a woman, and as a child of God are mocked by those I love - by my own flesh and blood. Yet, I believe they are right. I am a fool but PRAISE GOD He finds great use for this foolish vessel. Please do not take this rant as a stepping stool for victims. We are not. We are chosen. I encourage you to take your role as a woman of God seriously. Let others mock you and PRAY FOR THEM. Paul says our battles in this world are not with the flesh but with the spiritual and he is right. (Eph. 6:12 also 2 Cor. 10:3-5 for further reference) People are people. The world is the world. What makes one fool different from another is Christ Jesus. Pure and Simple.

I am a young wife, a young mother, and a young believer. I have struggled with my own decisions and my own sins. I have become a woman I never thought I would be. I have taken up the Sword of the Spirit and I fight in a battle I had no intention of fighting. And I find peace. All because of Christ.

Case in point: Ruth is a woman of diligence, delighted in her work and devoted to her family. I pray for these characteristics. When I worked in the world, I took delight in my work and I worked well. When I left that work behind and became a homemaker I was astounded with the tasks at hand. Yes the housework (i.e. mopping, dishes, dusting) are qualifying tasks for even the most intellectually challenged lab monkey but there is so much more to this job than anyone who has yet to undertake it can imagine. To manage an entire household, to rear children in the admonition of the Lord (1 Tim 2:15, Eph 6:4 - word "father" is the same greek word as parent BTW) If all of this is monkey work than I am much more dim-witted than this monkey.

Through constant prayer our gracious redeemer has helped many in our chosen role. We find great joy in tasks others deem "mundane" and "lowly". We find immense love in the blessings of our children others may call "burdens", and finally we find great love under the headship of our husbands, which others may look at as "weak" and "pathetic."

Embrace your role. Become your Ruth and wear your glory for God in this high calling. Understand that the world is the world and as fools they make themselves wise (Romans 1:22)but understand that this is the NATURAL man or woman.

Without Christ we are all fools which slip away beneath the crevices of His mighty fingers, lost and without purpose.

"according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."

Phillippians 1:20