February 2023:
The Proverbs 31 Woman is addressed as a Virtuous Woman whose price is far above rubies. Two words need explanation here: “price” and “rubies”. Price refers to both the quality of her character as well as worth, value, appeal and attraction. In all ramifications, she is an invaluable asset. Any man that has her will forever be happy and grateful to God.
Rubies are gems. They are beautiful and durable precious stones that have been cut into special shapes. Although very rare, they are highly esteemed, sought after and very expensive. Some magnificent attributes that make them stand out from other precious stones include their resistance to rust and decay, regardless of the environment; their brilliance and radiance; and their glowing both in the day and in the thick darkness of the night.
An international organisation that specialises in extracting, collecting and classifying gemstones said, “in the fascinating world of gemstones, the ruby is the undisputed ruler. It has everything a precious stone should have: magnificent colour, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities.” It is these unique attributes that make them fitting emblems of a virtuous woman, whose life is filled with the glory of God’s presence and the beauty of Christian virtues.
Justifying the comparing of rubies to the Virtuous Woman, a writer explains that “there is something in the glow of these precious stones that peculiarly fits them to serve for spiritual figures. There is about them a subtle light, a brilliancy that burns without fire, that consumes nothing and requires no supply, that forever shines without oil…. They are perfect emblems of the beauty and imperishableness of Christian virtues.” It is some of these brilliant, magnificent, radiant and outstanding qualities of The Proverbs 31 Woman I will be discussing in details here.
Additionally, I will discuss other sterling qualities of an ideal woman, which are implied in Proverbs 31, but are clearly revealed in other parts of the Bible.
INNER BEAUTY:
Today, the society tells us that an ideal woman must be beautiful, pretty, sexy and hot. It says women should look good, Well, that’s okay. It’s good to be attractive, but the problem is, how do you define beauty? Who sets the standards for beauty? Is beauty a woman’s physical appearance—the shape of her body, her height, her skin, whether glowing or not, or her complexion? Is it her facial appearance—-the colour of her eyes, the shape of her face, whether round or long? Is it her lipstick, the make-up she’s wearing or not wearing, her earring, nose-jewellery or eye-shadows? Or what exactly?
Note, there are different ideas of beauty from around the world and between individuals. What an American calls beauty may not be attractive to a European, an Asian or an African. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The society’s expectation goes deeper than mere beauty. Now, it places more emphasis on women looking “pretty”, “sexy” and “hot”. Just take a look at the movie, entertainment, cosmetics and fashion industries. Observe any musical award television show, for example, and notice how so many women in the audience wear tight-fitting, virtually painted-on outfits that are flashy and attention-getting, revealing parts of the body that are meant to be concealed.
The entertainment industry is particularly awash with the “hottest” trendy fashion——women wearing jewellery, bobbed or coloured hair, make-up, colourful polished nails and clothes that expose to the public gaze their bare breasts, arms, and lower limbs. Movie stars or celebrities pose for pictures with bikinis or naked bodies, and then post the photos on the internet. Nowadays, movies and entertainment are about “how far can we go” in pushing (or blurring) the boundaries of decency and good taste. They glamourise extramarital sex, immorality and violence, promoting situational ethics instead of choosing right over wrong.
The Ideal Wife
MARCH 2023:
THE PURSUIT OF BEAUTY:
Because of the pressure society mounts on them, women generally love to be considered beautiful whatever their age, colour or nationality. It has become a natural thing with them. Some can sacrifice anything – money, time and comfort – just to be attractive, admired or appreciated. This crave for physical beauty has led to various beauty treatments such as hairstyling, skincare, manicure/pedicures, and electrology (permanent removal of body hair through electrical means).
Cosmetology, the study and application of beauty treatment with branches of specialty in the aforementioned kinds of beauty treatment is now available in some colleges and universities, especially in the United States. Specialists in beauty treatment are almost everywhere in the world such as cosmetologists (experts in the care of make-up and skincare), hair colorists (hair stylists that specialise in colouring the hair), shampoo technicians (persons that shampoo and condition a client’s hair in preparation for the hair stylist, and aestheticians (experts in maintaining and improving outer layer of skin). Beauty treatment is also a big business today, as there are beauty treatment clinics and parlours everywhere. Aside from beauty treatment, the pursuit of beauty also makes some women do plastic surgery in order to look “pretty”.
These artificial ways of making themselves beautiful May impact their health negatively, and so also are the many fashions choices they make today. Shoes with heels higher than two inches that many women wear, for example, are linked to bunions, hammer toes, stress fractures and ankle sprains. Body protrusions on the back of the heels and Achilles Tendonitis can also develop, along with nerve damage between toes (neuromas, and circulation blockage, causing foot bones to die. Years of wearing high heels shorten the Achilles tendons, making flat shoes uncomfortable.
Flip flops (light sandals typically of plastic or rubber, with a thong between the big and second toes) are worse. Wearers have to clench their toes to keep them on, leading to foot fatigue, sore calf muscles and an altered gait which could cause long-term ankle and hip problems. Shape-wears for women like Spanx can cause nerve compression, digestive issues, and painful welts. Compression wear for the abdomen can prevent full expansion of the lungs and cause light-headedness. Heavy handbags and book bags throw the back out of line, causing back and neck problems. Experts warn that you shouldn’t carry more than ten percent of your weight on a shoulder, and don’t do it long term without sharing the burden equally on both shoulders. Over 20 percent of body piercing (tattoos) get infected. And finally, fingernail extensions and appliqués may develop bacterial and fungal infections.
Studies have also revealed that make-up is putting women at risk of deadly diseases. Cosmetic and beauty products often contain toxic ingredients that can cause cancer and other fatal illnesses. Experts say chemicals get into the bloodstream in many ways. Hair sprays; perfumes and powders are inhaled; lipstick is swallowed; eye makeup is absorbed by sensitive mucus membranes and other chemicals are taken in through the skin, and they destroy the body.
Coal tar colours, phenylenediamine, benzene and even formaldehyde are some of the toxins commonly found in shampoos and other everyday cosmetics, skin creams and blushers, and these hormones-disrupting chemicals could lower the immunity to diseases and cause neurological and reproductive damage. Most lipsticks also contain lead (a neurotoxin that can be harmful even at small dose). Lead affects the nervous system and harms the hormonal system. Lipsticks can also cause drying and chapping of the lips and blockage of pores.
To be continued…
Rapture is Imminent. Be prepared.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD:”
Hebrews 12:14 KJV
