A Virtuous Woman and a Faithful Man

A virtuous woman is guarded by strength and honor, ruled by the fear of God, and is a blessing to her husband, children, and household. She is a woman of noble character, a crown to her husband, unlike the woman who brings shame, likened to a cancer in his bones. According to Proverbs 12:4, a woman is either a crown or a cancer, but the virtuous woman is a crown (GNB & KJV). She is a woman of moral integrity and unquestionable chastity. She stands out among other women with her good qualities, as detailed in Proverbs 31:10-31.

She is trustworthy: her husband can trust her in all aspects—marital faithfulness, property management, and keeping confidential information. She is a blessing to his life.

She is diligent and hardworking: she has initiative and knows what to do. She is not lazy and despises idleness. She shops for quality and quantity and doesn’t mind traveling far to get the best. She is not a sluggard and avoids oversleeping. Rising early, she prepares food for her family and assigns responsibilities to her housemaids, supervising their work. She believes in planning ahead and doesn’t mind working late into the night, keeping her candle burning.

She seizes investment opportunities and doesn’t waste her earnings on trivial matters. She chooses to be energetic, strong, and hardworking, avoiding any unprofitable ventures.

She is not a time-waster; even her leisure time is spent on productive handiwork, like spinning thread or twisting fiber.

Being merciful and caring, she notices the poor and needy and attends to them. She is bold, courageous, and has foresight, planning ahead for her family. As a woman, she is creative and well-dressed, adhering to the principles of neatness, modesty, and decency. You will not find her in seductive attire, nor does she engage in flamboyant dressing. Among good women, she is judged excellent. Though beautiful and beautifully dressed, she emphasizes inner beauty—meekness and gentleness—that comes from her fear of God (1 Peter 3:3-4).

The virtuous woman is more than just a consumer; she makes such a positive impact on her husband that he becomes highly recognized among honorable men. She is not loud or talkative; she speaks with wisdom and communicates gracefully.

Similarly, a faithful man is honest and sincere, someone who can be relied upon. He is a man of integrity who stands by his word and keeps his marriage covenant. While many men pretend to be what they are not, the faithful man is genuine—he does not pretend to be good, kind, or generous; he truly is all these things. He is a man of charity, hospitality, generosity, and godly piety. Whatever he promises, he fulfills.

Such a man does not engage in extramarital affairs; he fears the Lord and does not cheat on his wife. He keeps his promise to love his wife “for better, for worse” and does not abandon her in adversity.

Having pledged to share all his worldly goods with her, he sees everything he owns as belonging to his wife. He doesn’t hide his phone or bank account from her. He is open and transparent. Where he says he’s going is where you will find him, doing what he said he would do. He is, therefore, completely trustworthy. In times of sickness, he stands solidly by his wife, providing care and attention for her healing, as he promised to love her in sickness and in health.

The challenge is that both the virtuous woman and the faithful man are rare—though not unavailable, they are few. Few people are fortunate enough to marry such a partner.

Many men marry women based on their beauty, wealth, or family background, only to discover that the woman is not virtuous. Likewise, many women marry men based on false promises. Most men present themselves as something they are not and promise things they never intend to deliver.

If you are reading this and are not yet married, may you not fall into the hands of a cancerous woman or a wicked man. May you find your own faithful man or virtuous woman.

Finally, whether married or not, it’s not just about finding a virtuous woman or a faithful man. It begins with deciding today to become a virtuous woman or a faithful man yourself, by surrendering completely to Jesus, being led by the Holy Spirit, and living daily in the fear of God.