Here in the United States, our definitions of nobility are often made up of what we see from Disney fairytales and watching the British royals. The idea that someone’s bloodlines alone would set them apart as something special is unfamiliar to us. While we may understand the idea in concept, we reject the idea in practice. We pride ourselves in being “the land of dreams” where with enough hard work and talent anyone can achieve what they desire. Our aristocracy is fluid in nature – comprised of the latest celebrity, professional sports player or tech tycoon to hit it big.
Because of the context that we live in, it may be difficult to grasp the exhortation of Proverbs 31:10 when the writer states “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” We are unfamiliar with the concept of nobility in general, let alone what the concept of a noble wife means.
The dictionary can be somewhat useful to us here. It defines noble as “possessing outstanding qualities,” or alternatively as “very good or excellent.” It goes on to define this word as “possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals.” So one thing we know about being a noble wife is that she is the exception rather than the rule. Our definition of a noble wife than can’t simply be based on what we see proliferated in the lives of women in media or even in our immediate circle of relationships. It is no wonder that writer of this proverb knew she was more valuable than a rare jewel – not just any woman would qualify for this distinction and finding her would be no easy task.
Another thing that we can quickly learn is that whether a woman is considered “noble” or not has much more to do with who she is than what she appears to be. In other words, the distinction of a “noble wife” is made based on the type of person that she is – her character, how she thinks and how she behaves. It is her ideals and morals that distinguish her as noble – not her perfectly manicured nails or her exquisite fashion sense. If we desire to be this type of woman this definition helps us direct where we should spend our time and invest our efforts. While taking care of our outside appearance is good, the greatest return will be found in grooming and refining our hearts. In doing so, our inner beauty will be reflected in our lives.
Lastly, it doesn’t take much to realize that the noble wife is one that is characterized by excellence. Doing what she is called to do well isn’t just a passing fancy, but it is the description of how she goes about completing her work. She is good at what she does. As we later read in Proverbs 31 that this includes everything from providing garments for her household to negotiating the purchase of a field. She is not given to half-hearted efforts – but seeks to bring glory to her Lord and honor to her husband through dispensing her tasks with great care and commitment. Her focus isn’t on “good enough to get by,” recognizing that the degree to which she does a task well is a reflection of her character and the seriousness of her commitment to the high calling she has been given.
What does a wife of noble character look like then? She looks like someone who gives as much care to maintaining her inner beauty as most princesses to do maintaining their outer allure. She is someone who is distinguished not by bloodlines but by convictions and character. Her legions of followers may be small in this life, but for the woman of God who chooses this path, she will be rewarded greatly in Heaven. She may never have the perfect curtsey or know all the proper royal protocol, but in the end, her worth will be far greater than even the richest kingdom of this earth can hold.