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The Godly Woman
by Rhonda Schellin
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 is probably one of the most well-known verses concerning women. The scripture goes on to say in verse 30 “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” What does that mean in today’s life? What are the attributes of a godly woman?
She adorns herself with good works, modesty, humbleness, service
1 Timothy 2:9-10
9) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness, and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.This theme is also in 1 Peter 3:1-4.
Does this mean that we are not allowed to dress nicely? That we are to be “dowdy”? No, of course not! There is a difference in dressing nicely and being fashion oriented. As women, we can easily fall into vanity and a desire to dress in all the “right” fashions. How many fashion magazines are there for women compared to those for men? Even jewelry is oriented toward women rather than men. Just walk into a jewelry store and notice how many showcases are for women and how many for men.
Knowing this weakness, God tells us to guard against it. To Him, true beauty is the result of how we carry ourselves, our inner self, humbleness and service.
So what should we “put on”?Colossians 3:12-14
12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14) And above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.Ephesians 4:1-3 and Philippians 2:1-5 also highlight the attributes of unity, of love and humility rather than high-mindedness, which can lead to strife. This leads us into another quality of a godly woman:
She demonstrates holiness in her speech as well as behavior
Titus 2:3-5
3) The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5) To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.1 Timothy 5:13-14
13) And withal they learn to be idle, wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.While gossiping is not exclusively a feminine attribute, we all know how easy it is to get caught up in it. How hard it is to walk away! It’s harder still to take a stand! While “discussing” someone may seem innocuous, it has the potential to give “occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully” and cause the word of God to be blasphemed. What does God think about it?
In Romans 1:29-30, look at the company “whisperers” and “backbiters” keep:
29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents.
Look also in 1 Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.Wow! A whisperer, backbiter and busybody are listed right alongside a murderer, fornicator, thief, hater of God, etc. That sheds a whole different light on “a little innocent gossip”!
So what are our instructions concerning our conversation?
Philippians 2:14-15
14) Do all things without murmurings and disputing:
15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Ephesians 4:29-32
29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.Let’s all keep mind Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
She labors in the gospel
We learn from Paul that while women may not teach or usurp authority over the man (1 Timothy 2:11-12), he also mentions women who have labored in the gospel.
Philippians 4:3
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Particular women mentioned by Paul:
Phebe: Romans 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Priscilla: Romans 16:3-4 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto who not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Mary: Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.Does “laboring in the gospel” mean I have to stand on a street corner and preach? Or go on television and teach? We think not! Our daily lives may be our ministry! How awesome is that? Think of all the people we come in contact with as we are at work or shopping, for example. How may we shine as lights?
By following God’s instructions for a godly woman, we will definitely stand out in a crowd! The people around us can see we are different and they will wonder why. Small acts of kindness open the door for a conversation or to pass along a tract. Instead of getting impatient at the checkout, smile and say a kind word to the person at the register. When you get your receipt, give them a track. In the parking lot, offer to put up the cart for someone else. Have a positive attitude at work, without gossiping and complaining about the day-to-day frustrations. Listen. Encourage. Praise. Comfort. There are a hundred little things that might seem small to us, but can make an impression or impact in the lives of those around us. Remember we are responsible for the action, but God is responsible for the outcome. “So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase… for we are labourers together with God:” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9).In closing, I give you the prayer of Paul in Philippians 1:9-11:
And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve what is excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of god.