Become a patron
Sisters, will our works praise us in the gates?
Proverbs 31: 31, Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Proverbs 31: 10-31, If the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. But she leaves it to her own works to praise her. Every one ought to desire this honour that cometh from God; and according to this standard we all ought to regulate our judgments.
A wise woman doesn’t praise herself, rather she leaves her works to others to weigh, to value, and to judge. Our works will speak for themselves. So the question we have to ask ourselves, sisters, is what are our works saying about us?
Satan has been involved in “Getting the women” from the moment he got the first woman, Eve, to do his bidding. He’s been involved in turning women from their God-designed purpose, and drawing them away from being a force for good, ever since. He’s after us, too, sisters. He wants to destroy us and our good work because he hates God and he hates God’s perfect design for mankind.
This should make us think, pray, and bury ourselves deep in God and His Word. Either we are serving Him and our works and deeds reflect that OR we are serving Satan and our works and deeds reflect that. It can never be both and there is no middle ground.
Thus we must trust the Lord and obey His Word. Our love for Him and our obedience to Him will show in our our obedience and in our works–for our families, the church, and our neighbors. Our works are not the basis of our salvation; only in Christ and by His sacrifice are we saved. Rather, our works flow from the fact that He saved us. He gave Himself for us that we might be saved; doing works that reflect righteousness are simply the fruits of our salvation and growth in Christlikeness.
This is something we must pray over and ponder: Is our fruit pleasing to God? Are we doing works of righteousness?
Does our works speak of biblical truth or of the evil one, the original rebeller against God?
Do our works in the Body of Christ praise us?
Do our families, our sisters, and all others see us as seeking after wisdom or running after riches?
Sisters, can we say that this verse applies to us? Proverbs 31: 26, She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Sisters, is it obvious that we value the role that the Lord has given to us? Do we keep it well and honor Him as we seek to be a godly woman, no matter where we are in our lives, young or old, single or married?
As a single woman, do we live lives of purity, and devote ourselves to learning from godly older women?
Proverbs 31, 10-12, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
If we are married, do we submit to and honor our husbands, follow his vision, and support him in his mission? Do others see us honor, respect, and obey our husband or see us disrespect him and run him down with our words?
Proverbs 31: 27-28, She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Do our works as a keeper at home speak of orderliness, discipline, and beauty? Or do we do only that which is most necessary and ignore everything else?
What about if we are a mother, sisters? Are we raising our children to be devoted to truth? Do we help our husbands train them in godliness? Do we love our children and value them above our own comfort or “dreams”?
What will our children say about us when they are our age? Will they look back and say that our works, works they saw every single day in our homes, honored God? Or will they say we were following our hearts instead of following the Lord?
Are we simply honoring ourselves?
Proverbs 31: 29-31, 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 fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Soli Deo Gloria!
