Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. (Proverbs 31:25 ESV)
Laughter and Love
Proverbs 31 is used too often as an embarrassment to wives. But it should not be. While at first glance, we see a list of character traits, skills, and energy levels that would be daunting for any human, that list is not intended to shame, motivate, or humiliate wives who fail to meet the high standards described.
Like every part of Scripture, those verses (most of Proverbs 31) point us to Christ Jesus. Put simply, those verses describe what it means to love and to be loved. Loved first and primarily by Christ Jesus. Loved first and primarily through Christ Jesus. Loved first and primarily because of Christ Jesus.
For instance, she provides for her family, working on Christ’s behalf, with Christ’s strength, and because of Christ’s compassion. When she succeeds, it is Christ succeeding. And when she fails, it is Christ succeeding.
The Proverbs 31 woman is a conduit for Christ’s love. She is Christ’s hands for her family, and her community. She is Christ’s mouth, encouraging and disciplining. She is Christ’s mind, planning and hoping and stewarding.
All of those amazing qualities are summarized in 31:30, “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
But my favorite part is that she gets to laugh. She laughs not just for the future (hope,) and not just for the past (faith,) but due to love. She laughs because she is loved, and because she loves.
The most important part of the entire chapter is found in that concept. Fearing the Lord, she knows she is loved and laughs.
Despite her overwhelming schedule, she laughs because of the Lord. Despite her responsibilities, she laughs because of the Lord. Despite her known shortcomings and failures, she laughs because of the Lord.
And we can, too.
We are loved by Christ, and through Him we can love… so we can laugh.
Our tasks are often as daunting as the woman’s described in Proverbs 31, women and men, children and aged, rich and poor, educated and unschooled, happy and sad, lonely and groupie, left-brained and right-brained, you and me. Never forget that we are loved. Never forget that love is the greatest.
And it is a reason to laugh.
Take the love God grants us.