A BLUE PRINT FOR A VIRTUOUS WOMAN
By : Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt

Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

In today's society the word "virtue" is a word that has been lost in the archives of the human language. In my dictionary, the word "virtue" is defined as follows: "1). The quality of moral righteousness or excellence; 2). The practice of moral duties and the abstinence from immorality and vice; 3). Sexual purity; chastity, especially in women. 4). A particular type of moral excellence." The question that was asked in Prov. 31:10, I am also asking,

"Who can find a virtuous woman?"

The Scripture tells us in Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." I personally believe that the problems that society is facing are a direct result of the lack of "virtue" being displayed by the people of that society! All we need to do is to take a good look at the youth of America, and it tells us that we are not teaching, promoting, and being the personal example of virtue that we need to be before your young people. Not long ago the "Children's Defense Fund" published some statistics that prove my point. This article states that the following happens every day in the USA.: 2,795 teens get pregnant. 1,106 teens have an abortion. 6 teens commit suicide. 135,000 children bring a gun to school. 7,742 teenagers become sexually active. 623 teenagers get a sexual transmitted disease. 211 children are arrested for drug abuse. 437 children are arrested for drinking or drunk driving. 3, 288 children run away from home. 2,556 children are born out of wedlock. and 2, 989 children see their parents divorced. All of these social problems are a direct result of virtue being instilled in the hearts of our young people.

Many ask the questions, how did all this come about? How do we fix the present problem? I believe that there are a lot of things that have contributed to this dilemma, but I believe the biggest factor in the youth of today is that we have allowed several generations to grow up without much parental involvement. Society has drilled in our heads that young married couples have to immediately have what it took Mom & Dad 30 years to obtain. Because of this personal lust to "obtain", many families have gone deeply in debt and have had to have both parents enter the work force. Now you can get mad at me if you want, and you can call me narrow minded and old fashion if you like, but many problems of our country would be solved if woman would stay at home and tend to there own children. Both parents in the work force creates a real problem. Who will now raise the children? Unfortunately the job as been left to the Television, Government controlled Daycare Centers, baby sitters, ect. If we are going to solve the crisis at hand, we have to have a plan that works, and all of the above has not!

What we need is a plan, We need a plan that works, We need a "Biblical Blue Print" of the Biblical Parents. As Mother's Day is approaching, we will look at the Biblical Blue Print of a "Virtuous Woman". Next month, Lord willing, we look at the "Blue Print of a Godly Man". In this lesson we will attempt to point out some of the things the Bible has to say about the "Virtuous Woman", so that we might have the Blue Prints we need to raise, restore, and rebuild our next generation.

The very first mention of womanhood in the Bible tells us a lot about the characteristics of a Biblical Woman. In Genesis 2:18 the Bible states: "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." From this point on the Bible begins to layout a Biblical pattern for a godly or virtuous woman. Please take note of the following passages.

1. Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." A godly woman enters marriage with the understanding of faithfulness and permanence.

2. Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." A godly woman realizes that she has been created with a purpose.

3. Genesis 3:16 "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." A Virtuous Woman understands the necessity of submission to divine order. In 1 Cor. 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." This does not mean the woman is less than the man, but simply that God has given divine order in the family.

4. Prov. 31:10-31, the Virtuous Woman is described as someone noted for their DEEDS NOT SPEECH. Please note some of her characteristics.
a). She is trusted by her husband.- Prov. 31:11
b). She is industrious and thrifty - Prov. 31:13-14
c). She is hardworking and diligent - Prov. 31:16-18, 27
d). She is compassionate and helpful - Prov. 31:20
e). She seeks her families best - Prov. 31:21-24
f). She is filled with words of kindness - Prov. 31:26
g). She fears the Lord - Prov. 31:30
h). She shall be praised in the time to come - Prov. 31:30
Please take time to study these passages, and ask the question, Do I fit the description that God has given?

5). 1 Tim. 2:9-12 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [10] But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. [11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." Several things should be noted about the Biblical model given in this passage.
First, the Virtuous Woman is to adorn herself with "Modest Apparel". The word "modest" according to my Strong's Concordance, means "decorative", The word "Apparel" comes from a word that is in reference to a costume that is "robed, long and flowing" (That leaves out mini skirts, hot pants, and other flesh exposing clothing!) It also states that a person shouldn't be consumed with decorating the outside, but changing the heart so that the outside is automatically changed. Verses 11 & 12 reinforces the statement given in Gen. 3:16, and I Cor. 11:3 that a Virtuous Woman is to submit to divine order.

6). Lastly we will look at Titus 2:1-5. In this passage the following characteristics are to be applied to the Virtuous Woman. Vs. 2 - Sober, Grave, Temperate, Sound in Faith, Sound in Charity, Sound in Patience. Vs. 3 - They are to be Holy, not to Lie or Gossip, not to be Drunkards, they are to Teach Good Things! Vs. 4. They are to train the young women how to be virtuous! Vs. 5. They are to be Discreet, Chaste, Keepers At Home (it doesn't say "of the home, it says at home!), Good, and Obedient to their own husband.
I could go on and on, but space will not permit me to. I would encourage you to go to your Bible, look up these passages, study them out, and pray and ask the Lord to give you grace to personally apply them to your life. If we are going to salvage the youth of our land, we need to get back to the Biblical Blue Print for families given to us in God's Holy Word. Next month, Lord willing, we will look at "The Biblical Blue Print of a Godly Man"

Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt
II Tim. 3:16