What You Make It

Welcome to the new series, the Modern Proverbs 31 Woman! If you’re looking to grow in godliness, figure out your role, or study into the Bible more, these studies will hopefully be encouraging ones. It’s not just for wives and moms, even though Proverbs 31 talks about those roles specifically.

Before we start, let’s remember: the Proverbs 31 woman was encouragement for a young man looking for a wife. She’s not a real person (so don’t get frustrated with her for setting some kind of unattainable standard).

And this isn’t God telling women, “you’d better live up to this.” No, it’s basically a group of characteristics that a young man was encouraged to look for, probably ones the king who wrote it had seen in women he respected. I imagine she’s included in the Bible because those characteristics are incredible goals for us to have.

She also shows what a powerful role women can have. They have a huge effect on their families, businesses, and communities. She’s no doormat.

In the Proverbs 31 Woman We Trust

Verse 10-12 of Proverbs 31 NIV says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of his life.”

To sum up this behavior in one characteristic, let’s use the word trustworthy. Trustworthy means able to be relied on as honest and truthful. It’s synonymous with words like reliable, dependable, and honorable.

Is there someone you have full confidence in? How does that feel?

My good friend Judith is one of those people. When we were working with the young professionals ministry in our church, she was a leader in it. I could ask her anything, from following up on a conversation to planning a whole event, and it would get done. If it was too challenging at the moment, I trusted her to be able to let me know what she could or couldn’t do. Even though we’re both in different stages of life now, I feel like I still can absolutely rely on her for anything.

What Does the Bible Say About Trustworthiness?

– God does it first.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”

Matthew 5:18 NIV says, “For I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

God proves himself reliable by fulfilling his promises to us. Accomplishment of the things he has set out to do are important to him. It proves that we can have confidence in him.

– He rewards the faith it takes to be trustworthy.

You can find the parable of the ten minas (or talents) in Luke 19:11-24. The gist of the story is that a master entrusts three of his servants with money to put to work until he gets back from a trip. He arrives back to find two of the servants have earned more money from that initial investment, while the third hid the money out of fear.

This story shows it’s all in our perspective. It’s how we look at the other person in the equation. If someone asks me for help, but I don’t know them well, or am not sure of their reasons for asking me to do something, I am much more hesitant to act.

Our choosing to respond to someone shows a great deal of faith and trust in them. And from what I can see, in the Bible and in life, God rewards us when we choose to take that leap.

– A trustworthy person is worthy of respect, and a blessing.

Proverbs 12:22 NIV says, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

1 Timothy 3:11 NIV says, “In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”

Trustworthiness is a noble attribute. It’s a key characteristic of a leader. (1 Timothy 3 talks about it multiple times.) And it’s something God delights in.

How Can We Be More Trustworthy?

– Follow through.

It might be an obvious one, but we need to be careful about what we commit to, and be sure to follow through. Matthew 5 talks about us taking into consideration the weight of our promises.

– Make honesty your policy. 

As I try to teach my oldest son, it’s hard to trust someone with a track record of dishonesty.

– Know your limits.

My husband said a profound thing. (Again. Because he’s smart like that.) He said, “I trust people who say ‘no’ more.” When it comes time for them to say yes, he feels that they know themselves well enough to know what they can and can’t do, rather than someone who says yes to everyone.

– Start small. 

Be dependable in the small things, not just the big ones. I know for me, being consistently on time is a “small” way I can prove myself reliable, but it’s hard for sure.

What are your thoughts on trustworthiness? What small thing can you work on to become more trustworthy?

Scriptures from BibleGateway.com: Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.