I.     Introduction
       A.  ”An excellent wife who can find?”
            1.  Finding excellence depends on what your standard of excellence is.
            2.  God’s word places a set of standards that define a great woman, wife, and mother.
       B.  What makes up an excellent wife, mother judging by God’s standard of excellence?
            1.  What does she look like? What will her life be like?
            2.  What should our young ladies seek to emulate? Our young men look for?
       C.  Let us look at the description of an excellent wife in Proverbs 31.
            1.  We can see qualities described in so many places in the Bible typified, put in action
            2.  While the setting may be ancient, the attitudes, qualities we see are timeless.
II.    ”Willing hands”
       A.  Hands, preparation figure prominently in this description (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
       B.  She works with her hands (13, 16b, 19)
       C.  She is willing to do the work to provide for the needs of family (15, 18, 21, 25b)
       D.  She sees to those in need (20; Matthew 25:35,36)
III.   ”She dresses herself with strength” (17)
       A.  Strength that comes from doing (17, 25)
       B.  Strength that comes from the Lord (Ephesians 6:10)
IV.    ”She opens her mouth with wisdom”
       A.  She has wisdom, discernment in the value and use of material things (16, 18; I Corinthians 2:14-15)
       B.  She has edifying, not destructive, things to say.
       C.  She teaches, passes on knowledge to children (Proverbs 31:1; Titus 2:3,4)
V.     ”The heart of her husband trusts in her” (11)
            1.  He has come to know he can count on her. (12; Matthew 7:12)
            2.  ”He will have no lack of gain” (I Timothy 5:8)
       B.  With her support, he can grow, lead. (23; Ephesians 5:22, 33)
VI.    Conclusion
       A.  ”Her children rise up and call her blessed” (28)
            1.  Her impact is noticed and appreciated over the years.
            2.  Her husband is able to reflect on her life with sincere praise (29)
       B.  ”Give her the fruit of her hands”
            1.  She is indeed “more precious than jewels.” (10)
            2.  Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (31)
            3.  Let us give glory to God for those priceless women in our lives, those who fear Him.
       C.  Is your life reflecting the godly qualities that come through fearing the Lord?

May 10, 2009
Glenn Record