24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And [o]supplies belts to the [p]tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [q]future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [r]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [s]fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [t]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Verse 25 seems a stark contrast to our human tendencies. When we look at the future, it’s easy to worry and fret. After all, one look at the news and you would almost think the world was coming to and end. Maybe you don’t even need the doom and gloom of the media, and you have enough cares in your own life. How in the world can one possibly smile at the future?
There are two things that seem to stand out in the following verses. The first is in v. 27, where the woman takes care of her house, not wiling away the day in idle pursuits. No doubt there are plenty of things she could worry about, but she does her best with what she has, ensuring any lack will not be her doing.
Another key is in verse 30, this woman fears the Lord, and she will not be put to shame. Rather, she shall be praised, because she has put her trust in God. It is not in her beauty, which she likely has anyway, nor in trying to charm or use deceit to get what she wants. No, she knows who she is, and who her Lord is, and that is enough.
And lest you think I’m just picking on the gals, us men can also fall easily into any of these traps, wasting time on idle pursuits, or worry, or vanity. None of these belong in the life of someone who fears God, because He has promised to supply our needs. So then, we should take what God has given us, and be prove ourselves faithful “a workman who need not be ashamed”.