“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” – Proverbs 31:29

 
It’s June, and you know what that means – it’s wedding season.  Got a wedding (or two) to attend this month?  Need to stop by the card shop and pick up some anniversary cards?  That’s not really surprising.  When it comes to the most weddings in the United States in any given month, June is the leader.  People no doubt pick June because of the warmer weather, the blooming flowers, summer vacation, and just the fact that it is a bit of an American tradition.  Once again, this isn’t really surprising.  June offers many things that couples want in order to make the memories of their wedding day special for the rest of their lives.  Of course, this got me to thinking about the many choices that come along with weddings: where to have it, what to eat, where to honeymoon, who to invite, how to decorate, what kind of music, and so on.   But throughout that list, one question of significance has been (and often is) left out. 

 
Am I marrying the right person?  This is an important question for both participants in an engagement, but I’ll pay special attention to the man’s perspective in this – after all, he is the one who buys the ring, drops to one knee and asks the question.  How does he know that she’s the one?  If only there were a checklist of the Scriptural attributes and qualities a man ought to look for in choosing a wife.  Well, as luck would have it…

 
Do you know a Proverbs 31 woman?  If you’re not sure, take a few moments and read Proverbs 31:10-31.  Once you’ve read it, you’ll know right away if you have ever met such a woman: noble character, valued by her husband, lacking nothing, diligent in her work, strong, smart, compassionate, resourceful, faithful, and one who brings blessings upon her family.  What woman would not want to develop these traits?  What more could a man desire from God when he prayerfully considers taking a wife?  God spells these things out for us so that we can clearly see what a Godly wife brings to a marriage.  It also encourages men to be better husbands by showing them the great blessings they and their family will receive from living with a Proverbs 31 wife and mother.

 
A Proverbs 31 woman is a rare find indeed.  In today’s modern age, ability, faithfulness, and beauty have been commonly replaced by shock value, notoriety, and sexuality.  Women realize that their fifteen minutes are dependent upon their ability to be relevant by any means necessary.  And by desiring and encouraging these types of behaviors, men bear a sizeable responsibility for this shifting focus as well. With this in mind, it becomes even more important to develop and support the women who diligently live their lives to the standards spelled out by Proverbs 31.  So as you seek the man or woman God has designed for you, seek also His will for your life so that you might prepare yourself properly to serve Him throughout your marriage.  If you are already married, ask God to build up in you the skills needed to achieve a maximized blessing by completing your roles as husband and wife.  It is then that you will know the fullness of what God intended for us to have in the gift of marriage, in peace, with joy, with purpose, and in love.