What does it mean to be a woman of God?

Proverbs 31:30 (Shin). "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." The favour of the world is deceitful, like natural beauty it does not last; but the woman who, in reverential fear, seeks to please the Lord, shall have a satisfying and praiseworthy life. And this is true for us all.

Deceitful is worldly favour, and vain is fleshly beauty; “the flesh profiteth nothing”, and the earthly advantages of birth, culture, riches or fame count for nothing in the estimation of the Lord, the righteous Judge, when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. But the fear of Jehovah, producing and bringing in its train subjection to and affection for Him, this is what alone merits and obtains praise and honourable mention before the coming judgement-seat — ‘the gates’ of Oriental imagery used here.

A truly godly woman, who, not only with the eye of faith, sees Jesus, as her individual Saviour, "crowned with glory and honour," for his obedience unto death, even the death of the Cross, seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high, but as risen with Christ, seeks "those things which are above," where is "Christ," as the Head of the church, His body, sitting on the right hand of God, and keeps her eye, in the power of an ungrieved Spirit, fixed on His glory, and her heart on His all-beauteous person; will not fail, in her family circle, to reflect in meekness, subjection, and obedience, the character of her heavenly glorified Master, Who said, when on earth, in the days of His humiliation "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, that ye may find rest unto your souls." Ah! that rest of heart, the absence of which is so painfully noticeable in so many a Christian Martha. And why? Because she has not, like Mary, in the submissive posture of sitting at the Master's feet, learnt and understood, that He did not utter those precious words, before He Himself first had turned to His Father, and said, in submission to His will: "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."

Does the question of verse 10 not imply that a virtuous woman is not to be found everywhere, just as another question is raised in chapter 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" Virtue does not only refer to moral purity, it is evident, but to all the characteristics of faithfulness, diligence, dependability that the chapter outlines. How refreshing to see in any good measure these qualities in a woman. But it is impossible apart from the grace of God having wrought in her heart. No material price can possibly give a recompense for her. The precious red ruby, or many of them together have no comparison to her worth. But are we not given a veiled hint here that her value is only measured by the precious blood of Christ, the price of her redemption? It is He Himself who has placed this value upon her: His heart safely trusts in her: He will have no lack of spoil, that is, no lack of gain through her. Not only will she refrain from harmful things, but "she will do Him good," as the good servant who reports to his master, "Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds." She is too busily occupied with good to allow time for even worthless things, let alone evil things. And this continues "all the days of her life:" there is no growing weary of diligent devotion.

How fitting that a book characterized by the fear of the Lord should end in this way. However others may seek to obtain favor by pleasant manners or beautiful appearance, the eyes of the Lord look deeper than this, and see the heart made known in consistent daily conduct and devotion. He will not be deceived, nor will the vanity of fair appearances make any impression upon His heart of absolute truth and purity. Is there not here also the clearest significance of the judgment seat of Christ? "She shall be praised." Not only will others eventually recognize her value, but far above all else, God will express His own approbation. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come: and then shall every man (or each) have praise of God" (1 Cor. 4:5). How deeply thankful then will each saint be who has honestly sought, with single heart, the pleasure of the Lord. We know that nothing will escape His eyes, nothing be forgotten that has been the fruit of faith working by love. And what child of God now would not yearn with desire for the joy of hearing those precious words from the Lord's lips, "Well done. thou good and faithful servant"?

We see, in the Gospels, how women ministered to Christ of their substance (Luke 8:3). Mary wrought a good work upon the Lord when she anointed His head with the precious ointment (Matthew 26:7-10). Dorcas did a good work in making garments for the poor (Acts 9:39). Mary, the mother of John Mark, opened her house for many to gather together in prayer (Acts 12:12). Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, did a good work when she opened her house to the servants of the Lord (Acts 16:14-15). Priscilla did a good work when, with her husband, she helped Apollos to know “the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Phoebe, of Cenchrea, was “a succourer of many” (Romans 16:2). Other Scriptures tell us that godly women can wash the saints' feet, relieve the afflicted, bring up children and guide the home. Here we read that in public the woman is to learn in silence. She is not to usurp authority over the man.

Do any ask what were the family duties of Christian women whether young or old? We have only to turn to Timothy and Titus to find out (1 Tim. 5:14; Titus 2:3-5.) If we desire to know how faithful women of old employed themselves, we have several examples handed down to us in the word. The married woman had duties to her husband and children, besides engaging in any labour of love for the saints or the Lord. The unmarried were more free to devote themselves to the things of the Lord. Beyond the range of family ties the sympathies of both could extend themselves. In Jerusalem, Mary, the mother of John, opened her house for prayer on that memorable evening when Peter was miraculously brought out of prison. At Philippi, Lydia of Thyatira hospitably entertained Paul and his company, whilst the elect lady of 2 John received into her house those brethren that went about ministering the word. Then there was Mary who bestowed much labour on Paul, and those two women at Philippi who laboured (rather, contended) with him in the gospel. There were Tryphena and Tryphosa who were labouring in the Lord, and the beloved Persis who had laboured much in the Lord. These holy women, living in that age, and working under the immediate eye of the apostles found plenty of scope for their energies, and plenty of opportunities for working for their Lord, without forgetting their true place with reference to their head. It was no idle life with them. They were in earnest: they were active. Mary, like her namesakes of the gospel, was forward in personal service: Persis had laboured much, and those women of Philippi worked zealously with Paul. Exactly what each did is not recorded. Can we not see a reason for this? The service of love may vary in different places and different ages. What is needed at one time may not be needed at another. To wash the feet of the traveller in the East is grateful to the way-worn one; in the West such service is not required. Had the special work of each been enumerated, other kinds of service, rendered so willingly, and accepted gratefully, might have been thought unsuited for devoted, godly women. The special work of one is recorded — a labour in season as much in our days as in that of Peter — Tabitha made garments and coats. Of others it is only recorded that they laboured much. These received the commendation of the apostle, and along with Tabitha have their names preserved in the inspired record. Theirs was service done for the Lord’s sake, and accepted by Him.

Mary anointed the Lord for His burial. Martha served the Lord right well. Phebe was a servant of the church, and a succourer of many. Lydia entertained the Apostle Paul in her house. Priscilla, subject to the headship and leadership of her husband, helped Apollos to understand the way of God more perfectly. Women laboured with Paul in the Gospel. Would that the descendants of these godly women were found in every city and village in the world! Happy, blessed service! There is no room for women to repine at the divine restrictions set on their service. There is more work for them to do than they can ever overtake.

"I will then that the men pray everywhere." Everywhere, anywhere. Have things on your heart — not only at the prayer meeting. It is indeed distressing to wait there a quarter of an hour in silence when we are there to pray. Have we nothing on our hearts? Holy brethren, hold up holy hands, without wrath or doubting. We want to be and ought to be a blessing. I want to stir you up! Let us "continue instant in prayer." It is not that sisters are excluded from praying. On the contrary, may they be stirred up to pray among themselves. But there is more than this for them. "In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety." There is an honour put on women. "if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the good behaviour of their wives." Thus may they win by their chaste conduct. "That they adorn themselves … with good works." We are told later (1 Tim. 5:10) what are good works: bringing up children, lodging strangers, washing saints, feet, relieving the afflicted. There were women who laboured with the apostle in the gospel, though certainly not themselves preaching, and the apostle bade the saints "help these women."

Nothing in the service of the Lord's people passes unnoticed; and thus in verse 12 we read, that "next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters." The zeal of these godly women has thus obtained for them a place in this memorial of the work of the Lord. Such a record, as well as the more abundant records of the New Testament, shows that there is never any difficulty as to women's place in service when they are filled with the energy of the Spirit of God. The account preserved of Joanna the wife of Chuza, Susanna, and many others, who ministered to the Lord of their substance, of Mary and Martha, of Phoebe, a servant of the church, of Priscilla, of Persis, and of many more, is surely sufficient for guidance to any who are willing to sit at Jesus' feet and learn His mind. This scripture gives us not necessarily what man, but what God saw. The father and his daughters were both engaged in repairing the wall, and the fact that it is mentioned is its commendation. Beyond this nothing can be said; but the examples already cited are enough to teach that there is room enough in the church of God, and also in the world, for women's utmost energy and devotedness to Christ, provided it be exhibited in subjection to Him and to His word.