Rubies

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is worth more than precious rubies."

Proverbs 31:10

To begin my study, I had planned on writing down all the attributes of a Proverbs 31 woman and then defining them individually. As I started last night.... "Virtuous... capable... more valuable than rubies..." From the first two verses I had about eight or nine qualities. As is my habit, I read over what I'd already done. Seeing as I had several to work with, I started in to define them. The first one was "more valuable than rubies."

Because I have a curious mind, I looked into the value of rubies. They have been the world's most valued gemstone for thousands of years and have been called "king of precious stones." They dominate the market when it comes to the highest per Carat prices, surpassing all other gemstones including diamonds. Rubies are more valuable and rare than even the top quality colorless diamonds. They have sold for as much as $4 million dollars! A pretty valuable piece of stone!

So what does that mean for me? What can I learn from it? Rubies are heirlooms. In the hands of a daughter or granddaughter, they become priceless, something that they wouldn't part with for any amount of money. They have meaning beyond the monetary, something that could never be replaced. Does my husband see me this way? Am I living my life in such away to encourage such thoughts? Or just the opposite? Do I nag? Or am I patient? Am I irreplaceable to him? What do I need to change to be so?

And what does this mean in relation to God? This is what staggered me. The reason I didn't continue on. "More precious than rubies." I am God's heirloom, His priceless treasure. It doesn't matter if I am scratched, dented, or filthy. He will always pick me up, clean me off, and cherish me. I mean something to Him, unavailable for purchase, valuable beyond measure. He loves me. It doesn't matter how horribly I mess up, He loves me. It wouldn't matter if I were the ugliest person on the planet, He loves me. It doesn't matter how far I've fallen, He still loves me.

How amazing to be able to rest in that love. Finding peace there knowing that even when I see myself as the scum of the earth, God knows I'm worth more than a $4 million dollar gemstone. I am more precious to Him than rubies. What an amazing God to love me, one messed up woman, despite everything. It's humbling. And it sets the stage for me to try to love Him... Daniel... and others in the same fashion.