Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
In 1 Corinthians 13:5 we learn that love seeketh not her own. How easy is it for us to naturally be looking after our own needs that we fail to look after the needs of others. […]
Ruth 2:10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
Scripture tells us that Ruth was a virtuous woman and that the entire community recognized the virtue that dwelt within her. One of the things that Ruth did which demonstrated to the community that she was virtuous was her grateful heart. In this passage, we see that Boaz had just offered Ruth protection and provision if she continued to glean in his fields. Ruth did not respond in pride thinking that she deserved these good things from Boaz. Instead, Ruth humbled herself and thanked Boaz for his generosity.
Proverbs 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
The eleventh characteristic of virtue Solomon was to look for in a woman he desired to marry was how she treated the poor. Solomon was instructed to look for a woman who did not shun the poor but instead, one who was willing to help take care of the needs of the poor. She could not be a respecter of persons, but instead, must be willing to use her abundance to help those who are less fortunate.
It is easy to be friendly to the lovely. It is easy to be hospitable to those who can return the favor. However, it takes a completely different mindset in order to provide for the needs of the poor knowing full well that they will probably never return the favor. Christ told you that �Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.�
Proverbs 31:14 She is like the merchants� ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
The fourth characteristic of virtue that Solomon was to look for in a wife is the quality of not being self-centered. A merchant ship did not sit around in the harbor doing nothing. Instead, a merchant ship was sent to foreign lands where it bartered for goods that were needed back home. The merchant ship was not sent once there was a need, but it is the goal of the merchant ship to provide substance before the need arose.
A merchant ship went to foreign ports not for its own benefit but for the benefit of others. A merchant ship risked its very existence by going out into the open seas where a storm could destroy it, its crew and its cargo. Yet the merchant ship is not looking out for itself but instead is looking out for the needs of others. The purpose of the merchant ship is to supply for the needs of others.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Isaac laid his hands upon Jacob thinking it was Esau and he blessed Jacob. When Esau came into the tent to receive his blessing, Isaac answered that Jacob had received the blessing and that Jacob would indeed be blessed. Isaac understood when he laid his hands upon his sons and blessed them that the words that he spoke were directly from the Lord and that the Lord would do according to the blessing that was pronounced.
Throughout scripture one will find stories of prophets boldly predicting what was going to happen next. These statements were not made on a whim. These prophets understood that one false prophecy and they would be deemed a false prophet and would be worthy of death. It was a serious matter to prophecy a blessing or a curse upon an individual and as such, the speaker always had to be sure of their words before they spoke them.
