Scriptures: Proverbs 31:10-31, 18:22

The passage in Proverbs 31, which is the most exhaustive exposition on mothers found in the Bible, is an acrostic. Each verse begins with a succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet and goes from one end of the Hebrew alphabet to the other. In other words, the writer is telling us "from A to Z" why mother is the heart of every home. More than looks, more than money, more than personality, you had better look for character in that woman, virtue, purity, fidelity, and above all, commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. For the work of a virtuous wife is "far above rubies." One by one the author gives us virtues that every godly mother possesses. As Dr. Merritt details these virtues, it will be brick upon brick, building up an edifice of admiration and respect that we ought to have for our wives and our mothers.

"Who can find the woman today that will do what is right rather than what is convenient? Who can find the woman today who puts her family ahead of her career, who puts her responsibilities ahead of her rights? This is the kind of woman who will have the baby. This is the kind of woman who keeps her vows when she says, 'Till death do us part.' This is the kind of woman who sees fidelity as a virtue and infidelity as a vice. You have to look hard and search diligently to find this kind of woman. It is not hard to find a female who will share a bed with you, move in with you, who may even take your last name. But to find a godly, moral, pure, devoted wife, who will also be a loving committed mother, is much more difficult." --Dr. Merritt

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