When you think of a woman who excels, who comes to your mind? Maybe it’s someone you know, or maybe it’s a woman from the Bible or someone from history. What is it about that person that brings them to mind? It could be that they did something really challenging, that they have a gracious, hospitable spirit, or any other number of things. Let’s look at Proverbs 31:29 and some of the ways we can excel in the Lord’s strength each day!
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
1. What Does it Mean To Do Virtuously? (Proverbs 31:29)
Do you think of virtuous as a soft, feminine word? The word virtue is actually related to strength. It has the idea of a strong force, an army, and valor. Being virtuous is not for the cowardly. It takes the Lord’s strength to exhibit moral courage and follow Him. People – even well-meaning ones – may put pressure on you to lower your standards, and it may seem like the easy way out to compromise “just a little.” Don’t give in! Be strong in the strength of the Lord and stand upon His unchanging Word.
The Proverbs 31 woman does virtuously, but she even excels above some who do virtuously. To excel has the idea of rising above or mounting up like a bird. The Proverbs 31 woman soars!
How does a bird soar? Is it because they are so strong? No. In their own strength, they could never fly effortlessly for hours on end. They know how to catch the air currents and let them buoy them up.
It is the same for us! We can never excel as virtuous women in our own strength. If we try to do things on our own, we won’t soar. We will flop to the ground in an anything-but-graceful way, discouraged and defeated. Trust me. I’ve done it.
We must seek the Lord’s strength afresh and anew each and every day. When we let Him live His life through us and ask Him to take control and strengthen us, then we can soar. That doesn’t mean it’s time for us to take over the controls again. If we do, we’re going to flop again. It’s a process of day by day, seeking His strength and learning to walk in the Spirit and soar in His strength!
2. She Excels Above the Minimum Requirement
There are so many extra touches that can be put into raising a family and running a household. The Proverbs 31 woman makes sure to include some of these loving touches.
It could be that she takes the time to lay out a pretty tablecloth or add a bouquet of wildflowers to the kitchen table. Maybe she lays aside her work to read a story to her children. Some days, it may mean mixing a batch of cookies when she really doesn’t feel like it.
Now, let me caution you here. There is always more that you can do. The Proverbs 31 woman takes time to do some extras, but she doesn’t get sucked into always trying to do more and never being satisfied. She picks the things that are a blessing to her family and does some of those. This doesn’t mean that she is always working and never has time to rest.
In our society, there are always more activities you can be involved in and more Pinterest-perfect recipes you can try. Excelling does not mean pressuring yourself to do all these things. It simply means, doing the things the Lord has called you to do, doing them cheerfully out of a loving heart, and being faithful. Living under pressure is not the way to excel!
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4
3. She Goes the Extra Mile (Proverbs 31:29)
This passage compares the Proverbs 31 woman to other women around her. Other women are doing well, but she excels them. It’s as though they are doing what is required, but she is going the second mile.
Isn’t it amazing the difference it can make when you are around someone who goes the second mile? Many serve because it is required of them or expected. The Proverbs 31 woman, on the other hand, serves cheerfully and as if it is something she wants to be doing. Many stand around waiting to be told what to do. She asks what she can do to help or dives in and starts doing something she sees needs to be done. Many stop working as soon as possible. The Proverbs 31 woman wants to keep helping until the job is finished.
With the Lord’s enablement, let’s be that kind of person in our homes. Let’s be on the lookout for ways that we can serve our family members and make things better for them. Instead of dragging our feet and looking like we wish we were somewhere else, let’s serve out of loving hearts with cheerful countenances. Rather than getting by with the least we can do, let’s go above and beyond, turning our houses into homes that are welcoming and filled with the presence of Jesus!
4. Her Motives are Pure
Whether or not we serve and help others is not the only question. Why are we doing it? Is it out of duty? To look good? To get something done for us in return?
It is easy to fall into the trap of doing the right things for the wrong reasons. All too often, we are doing things out of duty or because we think someone is watching. The truth is, Someone is watching, but He sees not just our actions. God also sees our hearts and our motives.
We can also fall into the trap of doing things in our own strength. Sometimes we wake up in the morning and dive into our to-do lists for the day, never even asking the Lord to strengthen us and live His perfect life through us.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Anything that we do in the flesh and not in the strength of His Holy Spirit is going to fall short. Even if it looks good on the outside, it is hollow and black on the inside. We need to seek the Lord each day and ask Him to live through us by His great and pure strength. Let us excel in His strength, for that is the only way that we can truly excel!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
5. She Serves Out of Love (Proverbs 31:29)
Our service should be done in love. It should be done out of love for Jesus, as a humble love offering to Him because He has given us everything. He gave us everything we have, and He gave us His all — His life. Let’s serve out of love for Him!
We should also be serving out of love for man. Maybe you do something nice for a family member, but you do it with the wrong attitude. This is not excelling. More than likely, that family member will be able to sense that your attitude was wrong. Even if they can’t, the Lord will see. He knows why you did it. Let’s ask the Lord to fill our hearts to overflowing with love for Him, for our families, and for the others around us.
6. She Does it As Unto the Lord and Not Men
Pride. It’s such a part of our fleshly nature. It can ruin everything. We may be serving with a cheerful countenance, seeking to love our neighbor as ourselves, and still be doing something for the wrong motive. It may look like we are doing the right thing, but in our minds, we may be thinking, “I hope so and so notices what I did,” or, “I can do this better than she can,” or some other similar thing.
We are called to serve the Lord and live to please Him, not men. True, we should seek to serve and bless others, but we shouldn’t do it so that they notice us. If we do it with pure motives as unto the Lord, it is then that the Lord will be ready to reward us. We see in the account of Ruth that she was faithfully caring for her mother-in-law and not seeking attention, yet her reputation spread throughout the whole city.
And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
7. Her Attitude is Gracious (Proverbs 31:29)
Someone could go the second mile and do it with the wrong attitude. Have you ever asked someone to do you a favor and had them do it for you with the wrong attitude? They may do it for you, but if they do it in such a way that they show it is a favor or that they don’t want to do it, it takes the joy right out of it — for them and for you. Don’t be like that! Serve with a gracious attitude.
Jesus humbled Himself and served, not with a superior or grudging air, but out of love with a gracious attitude. And, He can enable you to do the same. It’s not always easy to go the second mile and serve. Sometimes people will ask for favors and you won’t be in the mood to do them. Seek Jesus’ help right at that moment. He is able to put a smile on your face and a song in your heart and help you serve as His hands and feet with His attitude.
Simple Takeaway
- Being virtuous and excelling requires strength — the Lord’s strength and help.
- Excelling means being willing to go the extra mile.
- For us to truly excel, we must serve in love and humility with a gracious attitude.
Let’s Chat!
What are your thoughts on Proverbs 31:29? Can you think of any ways we can excel in the strength of the Lord?
Until next time, do virtuously and seek the Lord’s strength to enable you to excel!
In Christ,
Bethany
