A PRICE FAR ABOVE RUBIES

1 Cor 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but
the woman is the glory of the man.

Prov 31:10-31
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

I. WOMEN ARE CONSIDERED NOTEWORTHY IN GOD’S WORD.

A. To whom did God entrust His Son?
1. Luke 2:46-52 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were
astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his
mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee
sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my
Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down
with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in
her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

a. A godly mother imparts wisdom to her children.

i. Prov 1:2-9 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the
simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will
increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To
understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My
son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall
be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

b. A godly mother attends to the care and feeding of her children.

i. 1 Sam 2:19 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen
ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to
year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

c. A godly mother will see to the spiritual needs of her children.

i. 2 Tim 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in
thee also.

B. Godly women were noted for charity and good works.

1. Acts 9:36-41 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is
called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in
those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent
unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went
with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by
him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But
Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.
And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her
up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

C. Godly women were a great help and encouragement to evangelists.

1. Rom 16:1-6 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever
business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Greet
Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto
whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is
in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet
Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

2. Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both
Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the
son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

3. Phil 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the
gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4. Acts 16:14-15 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira,
which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which
were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye
have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

C. Women are mentioned specifically as being avid hearers and converts. (Lydia already mentioned.)

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 1. Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and
the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (In Samaria)

2. Acts 17:11-12 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore
many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

D. Women, too, were persecuted for Christ’s sake.

1. Acts 22:4 And I [Saul] persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both
men and women.

II. GODLY MOTHERS AND OTHER GODLY WOMEN ARE TEACHERS.

A. In the home.
1. Acts 16:1-2 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named
Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a
Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

2. 2 Tim 1:3-5 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without
ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being
mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is
in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in
thee also.

3. 1 Tim 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give
none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

B. In private situations.
1. Acts 18:24-26 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being
fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of
John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they
took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

C. Godly women will teach the younger women.

1. Titus 2:2-5 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given
to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their
husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

D. A Christian wife can have a profound influence on an unbelieving husband or fiancee.

1. 1 Peter 3:1-2 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the
word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your
chaste conversation coupled with fear.

2. Mrs. J. H. Halbrook

III. A CHRISTIAN MAN NEEDS A STRONG GODLY WIFE.

A. That is one of the qualifications for a man to be a deacon. (By implication also to be an elder)
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 1. 1 Tim 3:11-12 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

B. Some of the apostles had their wives to travel with them.

1. 1 Cor 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the
brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

C. Godly mothers adorn themselves with Christian behavior.

1. 1 Tim 2:8-10 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and
doubting. 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; But (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good works.

2. 1 Peter 3:3-7 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves,
being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose
daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands,
dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and
as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

THANK YOU ALL, LADIES!