The truly spiritual woman

“…a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30b

Violets

Have you ever heard someone say, “So-and-so is such a spiritual lady”?

Depending on who is speaking and the context, a statement like that may be intended as either an insult or a compliment. Sometimes it’s said with a roll of the eyes, as a sarcastic barb at someone puffed up with self-righteous pride. Other times, however, it’s spoken with respect and thankfulness as the speaker describes a woman who embodies Biblical godliness—in fact, the sort of woman we should all aspire to be like.

But what does it mean to be a spiritual woman? A simple definition is found in Proverbs 31:30b, which says, “…a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” A woman who fears the LORD is saved, sanctified and serving, so let’s look at these three areas in turn.

Firstly, she is a saved woman. During church outreach, I often meet people who tell me that they are Christians. Some undoubtedly are. But others call themselves Christians because they were sprinkled as a baby by a Catholic priest, pray to angels, went to a Christian school or try to ‘do the right thing’. Sadly, Matthew 7:22-23 warns that unsaved individuals, even if they do good works supposedly in Jesus’ name, are destined for eternal separation from Christ. Unsaved people can do good and helpful things. But their works lack God’s power because this power comes from having the Holy Spirit living inside us (Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19). We are living in a day of tremendous spiritual warfare, and we need to put on all of God’s armour—particularly the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6).

Let’s remind ourselves of the Biblical definition of a Christian and how to become one. All humans are sinners, guilty of breaking God’s laws, and deserving the punishment of death (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Hebrews 9:27) and the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). However, Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty our sin deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21), and it’s on this basis that the Apostle Peter declared, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19a). In repentance, we recognise the wrong of our sin and inability to save ourselves, and turn in faith to the One who can save us, Christ who is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Through salvation we receive eternal life (1 John 5:11) and are ‘sealed’ by the Holy Spirit who comes to dwell inside us (Ephesians 1:13). Most or all of you reading this will be familiar with these concepts and verses, but we cannot overlook the tremendous importance of making sure we are saved, and that those we work alongside in Christian ministry are also saved.

Secondly, though, a spiritual woman is also a sanctified woman. “Sanctified” means to be “made holy, purified or consecrated” (Strongs). It particularly refers to the act of dedicating an item or person to the service of God. In the consecration of Hebrew priests to serve in the tabernacle (Exodus 29), we see both the once-off element of dedication to a life of service, and the on-going, repeated dedication through daily washings and sacrifices. Sanctification is an ongoing process that begins with once-off salvation. It is a life-long growth process in Christlikeness, holiness and fruit of the spirit (2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Galatians 5:25). But it is not self-effort or outward conformity to religious rules; Paul called the Galatians ‘foolish’ when they reverted to keeping the law in an attempt make themselves holy (Galatians 3:3). Sanctification isn’t just behaviour change; it is also heart change. As I heard one preacher say recently, sanctification is the key purpose of all truly Biblical counselling and discipleship because it focuses on “changing what we do (behaviour) by letting God change who we are (heart)”. He went on to say, “Spiritual growth is not an optional extra in the Christian life.” It is commanded (2 Peter 3:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Therefore, every woman who fears God and longs to please Him will desire sanctification. It’s the daily surrender to doing God’s will that Jesus spoke of in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”. It’s making Scripture central in our thoughts, actions, communications and churches because God sanctifies us through His Truth (John 17:17) and the Word enables us to grow (1 Peter 2:2). Sanctification empowers us to be light in a dark world, shining so brightly “before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). And it produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, as we abide in Christ and He abides in us (Galatians 5:25, John 15:5). Yes, we still live in a world full of temptations tailor-made to trigger our lusts, but growth in Christlikeness brings glory to God and blessing to us.

Thirdly, a spiritual woman is also a serving woman. Power for service comes from salvation and sanctification. A woman who fears the Lord will seek to serve Him all her life. How that specifically looks from woman to woman will vary depending on her stage of life, gifts, and responsibilities. But all her service, whether big or small, should be done with a heart to please God. As Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Rather than being slothful in business, we should be “fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

Remember God values the heart and motives over the magnitude of the service. Some people do tremendous charitable and religious works but are spiritual failures (Matthew 7:22-23), while others receive God’s reward for small but genuine service done in Christ’s name (Mark 9:41). Human-powered service can look outwardly spiritual, but it lacks God’s power and sooner or later will fail. Yes, God gives different gifts, abilities and spheres of service to people, but let’s not forget that human capacity and spiritual empowerment are two different things with incredibly different outcomes. Isaiah tells us, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31). At times we grow burdened, grieved and doubtful of the value of our labours, but “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

“A woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” Honoured and praised by whom? Perhaps by her husband and children (Proverbs 31: 28), her community (Ruth 3:11), or those she serves (Acts 9:39). Perhaps even her own works publicly testify of the worth of her labours (Proverbs 31:31). But sometimes the spiritual woman appears to receive no earthly reward. Take heart though, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). And he says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).

So, let’s seek to be spiritual women who fear the Lord in salvation, sanctification and service.