I have a great news to tell! After praying for my mother for 20 some year, after talking to her over the phone for 3 to 4 hours last night, she prays with me and accepted Jesus as her only Savior. It was 11pm last night, to be exact. There is nothing on earth that bring greater joy for me than this! When I call my sister who is in California to let her know the great news, she said, “We are all in bed. But this is worth it! There are even something good coming out of 9-11!” Yes, 911 has driven many to turn to God! And I am so grateful that one of them is my mom. My mom has been a homemaker for all of her married life. She is the one who has the greatest impact in my life and in the family that I grew up with. The proverb we have today, is also talking about a homemaker and her impact, whom so reminded me of my mom and the family I grew up with.

When you hear the word “Homemaker”, what comes to your mind? You probably won’t relate this to an impressive Business Card or Resume. Some may think “homemaker” is a 24 hours job, no pay no holiday no bonus, Day-in and day-out doing the same thing, low Job satisfaction, no Prospect, and no appreciation. It is not so in our proverb for today, Proverb 31:10.

The rhetorical “Who can find” calls for the response, “Almost no one.” It indicates the fact that a wife like this is precious but rare, hard to find. But, is the world looking for a woman like this? What does the world desires the most?

What would average people think of “an ideal wife” is? It is probably desirable to marry a rich lady or a woman of power! Or may be someone like Julia Roberts, the Pretty Woman, or “Barbie”! The most popular girls in school and at work, usually are the ones with beautiful face and great body. Men may easily be attracted to a woman who has the face of the angel, and the body of the devil, and consider this as the girl of their dream. There is a Chinese saying, 「入得廚房, 出得廳堂」, meaning She has to be a good cook in the kitchen! And she has to be presentable in the public! Isn’t it true that we usually they care a lot about “Is she pretty?” kind of question? How does this kind of value impact our little girls? Many grew up looking up to and aspiring to become a “Barbie”.

My brother married a very beautiful young lady. He was proud to show her off because he has a beautiful girl friend. People around him envy about him too. Few more years down the road, thing turns bitter! How he regretted to marry a girl who has only beautiful face and great body. Out of desperation, he wrote me, “Don’t you ever get into marriage. I envy the fact that you are still single and free. Don’t you ever give that up for marriage.” I can tell that he feels trapped. But the problem lies not in the system of marriage itself. It’s about the value system we go about choosing a mate. She married her because he is able to provide a home for her. He married her because she is beautiful. It seems like this is not working in my brother’s case. But still, the culture of the world is obsessed with sexy body rather than “inner beauty”.

The Hebrew word translated into English as “noble character” is “lyIx;”. Dictionary defines this word as, “Strength, ability, efficiency, wealth, army”. It means physical strength, strength in terms of material and moral character.. When it is applied to woman, it means “ability, efficiency, often involving moral worth. Chinese Bible translate it as “a woman of talents and moral worth” (才德兼備). Her charm and her success (30, 31) owe nothing to chance, because her outlook (30) and her influence (26) have the solid foundation on the fear of the Lord. (30) Her words and deeds overflows from the spring of wisdom, on which she build a home for her family. She is the delight of her children and her husband (28, 29).

How can she be such a “wonder” woman? This proverb says nothing about the appearance of this good wife. It even belittle beauty as “deceitful and empty” (39). She is probably not “Barbie-like” figure. Now there is a place for physical appearance in the Bible. The whole of Song of Songs was devoted to the praising of the physical appearance of the bride and the groom to each other. But this proverb we are looking at is emphasizing the daily routine of a wife in her effort of making a home. The emphasis is undoubtedly upon her ability of running a home by her tireless efforts and gracious words of wisdom, providing the needs for each members of her family.

A Hebrew Lexicon defined the word “praise” as: “to describe the shining of the sun (Job 29:3; 31:26).” If a godly wife in shinning like a sun in her household, her husband and her children should let this light shine through them, and praise her to her face or in front of the others. Her own works Even praise her in the gates (31). The result of her work became obvious and its light shines through the presence and witness of her husband even in the city gate.

Why does the husband praises her? The Revised Webster Bible tells us in Proverbs 31:29, “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” Here is our little word “lyIx;”, “noble character”. There are many women with virtuous, noble character. Why does he regard her as the most excellent, most precious one? Obviously, from the context, it is because this one is making a home for him and for his children.

Dr. John Coleman is one of the most gracious man I know. He is an Englishman, a missionary doctor serving in Middle East for many years. I don’t know his wife Audrey personally. Yet I feel that not only do I know her, I have high respect for her. Because Dr. Coleman praises her every time he began to preach. He always began by saying, “It is too bad that my wife Audrey can not be here with me. You ought to meet her. She is the most beautiful, most godly woman I have ever known.” And he will go on and on telling what a wonderful wife God has given to him. Dr. Coleman always reminds me of the husband of this excellent wife of Proverb 31.