Eld Chew Chong Kiat

A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. (Proverbs 11:16)

I. A gracious woman retaineth honour.

Who is a gracious woman? All are born in sin. The grace from an unbeliever may appear good on the outside, but in the eyes of God it is like filthy rags in terms of being not good enough to enter heaven. The good deeds of unbelievers are good only for this earthly life. Therefore, no one can be gracious except those who have received the grace of God.

Another way to describe this gracious woman is that she is a woman of grace. This means that she has experienced the grace of God which is salvation in Christ. She is a Christian woman full of God’s grace.  Her grace does not originate from within herself.  Her grace points others to the Saviour. Her gracious deeds and life have eternal significance. She was filled with sin. Now she is full of God’s grace.  She received God’s grace in Christ who died for her sins.  She experienced God’s grace of forgiveness and the sanctification of her mind, heart and soul.

Thus she retains honour. The verb “retain” means “to keep fast”. How tenaciously will she keep fast her honour?  She keeps fast her honour just as strong men hold fast to riches. To the gracious woman her honour is her riches. This means that she will not allow anyone or anything, regardless of how challenging it is, to stop her from keeping fast her honour. The reason is that her honour is the honour of Christ. To bring shame or dishonour into her life is to shame the Name of Christ. She knows that the people around her, especially her loved ones, need to see Christ in her life. Her honour when sustained will allow them to see Christ and come to know Him as Lord and Saviour just as she has. The salvation of sinners is more precious to her than earthly riches. Her honour in Christ is her strength. In all that she does in life Christ is the One she promotes. When she is honoured in life or in death, her only desire is for her Saviour to be remembered.

So in life, she is diligent. She serves her Saviour in all she does. She is a faithful wife and mother to her family. Her friends will see Christ in her by her good works. This is how she glorifies God. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

II. Portrait of a Gracious Woman

What is such a gracious woman like?

(a)   The wise woman in Proverbs 31:10-31 was a faithful wife and mother at home.

(i)   Her graciousness (v15,19,20).

The grace of God was not in vain in her. “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” (v15) She sacrificed her sleep and awoke before sunrise to prepare meals for her household. Cooking then was hard work and required a substantial amount of time in the absence of the conveniences of pre-packed food and ingredients, refrigeration and modern equipment. She not only provided for her family but also cared for her maidens.   

 “She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.” (v19). She spinned wool sheared from sheep to make thread and weaved them to make cloth, and cut and sewed them to make clothes. Clothes were expensive and hard to come by, especially those multi coloured and fine clothes. “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy” (v20). Her graciousness extended to the poor and needy, probably in clothing and food, and also to her household (v21).

(ii)  Her honour (v25,28-31).

What was the result of her graciousness? She was honoured. “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” (v25). Her family honoured her. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” (v28)
Her graciousness was honoured by the society at prominent places like the gates, “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates” (v28).
“A gracious woman retaineth honour.” (Pr 11:16a)

(b)   Dorcas of Joppa (Acts 9:36-41)

(i)   Her graciousness (v36,39).

“this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” (v36b) Dorcas laboured for poor destitute widows. She took upon herself to dress them (v39). Clothes were hard to come by in those days as mentioned earlier, and they were very necessary to keep one warm during winter.

(ii)  Her honour (v37-38, 40-41).

“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.” (v37) Her beneficiaries honoured her in death. And after her death they heard that the Apostle Peter was near where they were and requested that he came to them. “All the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.” (v39). Her gracious deeds were remembered at death. God raised her from the dead so that she could continue to do more good deeds to bless God's people.   

Let us who have received the grace of God go forth to sow seeds of grace, that the gospel of Christ carried  by gracious men and women of God may be used by God to bring salvation and blessing to all. May we as God’s children keep our honour that is in Christ Jesus tightly because we know this is true riches!