There is a difference between a woman who is high-maintanance and one who is expensive.
The first is a derogatory title which describes the materialistically-driven, self-centered woman who takes her man and family to the cleaners over and over again. She is a “Desperate Housewife” who is a persistent drain on her family. Poverty, frustration, and curse awaits the family who must dwell with and seek to satisfy such an ungodly wife and mother. Such women are not rare. Such women are not highly valued. And such women ought not be praised.
Contrarily, there are those ladies who resemble the individual presented in Proverbs 31. Instead of harming those about them, they bring wealth, enjoyment, improvement, blessing, and satisfaction to their family and friends. The character of such women is off the charts. Their work-ethic and wisdom are ever-astounding. Their value to her husbands, children, church, and community is unmeasurable. No, they are not high-maintance, but they are expensive, for there is no amount of money that can measure their worth. Gold and silver cannot compare with such godly women.
Therefore, I end this devotional by asking four questions.
First, are you the extraordinary woman? All women are not equal. All women are valuable, but not all are invaluable. All women have worth, but not all are noteworthy. Consider Mother Mary vs. Eve. Consider Jochebed vs. Jezebel. Consider the number of Proverbs which make this point:
Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
Proverbs 19:14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Proverbs 21:9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 21:19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
Proverbs 27:15 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day.
Therefore ladies, what sort of woman are you? Are you self-centered, materialistic, covetous, ungodly, and high-maintanance? Are you like the “Desperate Housewives?” Or are you like the incredible woman found in Proverbs 31? Are you the extraordinary woman God designed you to be?
Second, are you troubled by the Law? Have you ever wondered why Proverbs 31 bothers you so? It is because this chapter presents the perfect standard of righteousness for the fairer sex. And as the Law of God, it is unbearable, undoable, damning, and loathsome to all who seek to keep it. It is absolutely impossible to hit this mark; one cannot live up to such unrealistic but holy expectations.
Third, are you running to and resting in Christ? Are you aware that Christ died for all the sins of his female children? Do you need to be reminded of this again? And do you also know that He offers a never-ending makeover for all who call him Savior and Lord. Therefore ladies, confess your sins; rest in Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice; seek to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit; work on your own sanctification, and watch as you become transformed into the exotic, elusive, and expensive woman. In Christ Jesus, all this is possible.
Fourth, are you the ungrateful and unthankful man? Look around your workplace, about your church, within your house, and in your bed. Has God placed such godly women in your life? Such ladies are blessings and ought to be acknowledged. You should thank the Lord for his benefits. You should confess your sin of not giving them the praise they deserve. You should confess your sin of thinking you are sufficient without such helpers. And then you should repent and go do that which is right and fitting — give such ladies the honor, glory, praise, chocolate, flowers, hugs, and anything else that seems fitting. If you are blessed by such expensive women, your net-worth is beyond measure. Share some of it with the magnificent ladies God has placed in your life.
Unfathomable Grace 