The Rubies Are Rare

Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

 How many of us women really study the Word of God as we ought? I know I don't and it's something I want to work on and change. I'm working on a study of Proverbs 31 (specifically the verses dealing with the virtuous woman) and I want to share with you the gemstones God has shown me and hope they encourage and impress on you the importance of having a virtuous, godly character. May we echo with John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

The Virtuous Woman

What does virtue mean exactly? Here's the definition thanks to dictionary.com--moral excellence, goodness, righteousness, conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles, uprightness, rectitude, chastity.  The definition of virtue can be summed up like this, conformity of one's life and conduct to that of Christ's Himself. When I would read Proverbs 31 or hear a sermon on it I would get bogged down by the thoughts, "I can never reach those goals if I tried", or "It takes a special person to do that." and miss the whole point. Yes I can never do that on my own, and yes it does take a special person. It takes Jesus Christ! If I try I will fail. Success is found not in our strength or righteousness, but in God's enabling grace and power. Yipee! Out the window with the thoughts and fears of doubt. It is not we, but Christ dwelling in us, who can fulfill all His commands.

Who Can Find Her?

The Bible asks the question, "Who can find a virtuous woman? The obvious assumption is that she's not a common kind of person and she's sought for but often not found.

Her Price is Far Above Rubies

God's Word doesn't exaggerate or overstate things like we humans tend to do. He said her price (worth) is far above rubies! Rubies for centuries have been one of the most expensive and sought after gemstones in the whole world. According to IGS (International Gem Society) the following is true of rubies. 

Ruby

One of the most popular traditional jewelry stones, ruby is exceptionally durable. Its colors — always red — can reach vivid levels of saturation. Fine-quality rubies are some of the most expensive gemstones, with record prices over $1,000,000 per carat. However, rubies are also subjected to more treatments than almost any other gem.

Now consider the fact that the Bible says, "her price is far above rubies." It's pretty plain to see that God puts a high value to virtue.

2 Peter 1:3-8 & 10b "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ....if ye do these things ye shall never fall."

We know from the Scripture above that God through His divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. He has first taken away our old man (if we are saved) and given us His Spirit of Truth and His Word. The only way you and I can escape the corruption that is in the world through lusts is by using the tools He has given us. He has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit. Sadly, I think many Christians (myself included) don't experience victory as they should because they are not in God's Word (memorizing and meditating) as they should, and/or because they are not walking in the Spirit as they ought to be. Please study 2 Peter 1 and Proverbs 21 on your own and ask God to help you understand it more thoroughly and grant you the privilege, through His power, to be one of the hard to find, highly valued virtuous children of God.