In December 2006, I went home to Scotland to spend the festive season with my family. It was late one night during my time there when I was casually sifting through my Bible and I happened to come across Proverbs chapter 31. I found it a very interesting chapter that spoke about a wife of noble character and some of the desirable qualities she might possess.
As a single woman at that time, I couldn’t really relate to the woman described in the Proverb, but what really got a hold of my thoughts was verse ten. It read:
“A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
I thought, “What a curious comparison to make- to compare a wife to a ruby!” I began to think about the different qualities that each might possess. I thought about what a ruby might mean to a man, what a wife might mean to a man and then started to compare the two. Before long I found myself writing “Comparison To A Ruby.”
As a single woman at that time, I couldn’t really relate to the woman described in the Proverb, but what really got a hold of my thoughts was verse ten. It read:
“A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
I thought, “What a curious comparison to make- to compare a wife to a ruby!” I began to think about the different qualities that each might possess. I thought about what a ruby might mean to a man, what a wife might mean to a man and then started to compare the two. Before long I found myself writing “Comparison To A Ruby.”
Can you compare a wife to a ruby,
To it's wonderful crimson depths?
It's vision and form so sacred
With it's angles and shapes complex.
It's beauty will be eternal,
With this she cannot compete.
But when has a man ever looked for
A ruby to make him complete?
It's face will always be ageless
And body hard as a nail
But she will be warm and gentle
With love that will never fail.
A ruby is priceless in value,
A thousand debts it'll pay
But her love for him will be priceless,
A treasure he won't give away.
A ruby will never be faithful,
To rubies you cannot confide
But she can listen for hours,
His thoughts he won't have to hide.
A ruby is truly delightful!
A sparkling gem in the sand
But she will be his companion
To walk with through life, hand in hand.
She could try to be just as dazzling
And woo him with ruby red charms
But what could be more inviting
Than the tender embrace of her arms?
A ruby has elegant contours
With-holding it's secrets unknown
But loving this scarlet desire
Could turn any man's heart to stone.
For though he may lavish his interest
And compliment day after day,
His blandishments fall down unnoticed,
For a ruby will never repay.
It never will share his emotion
Or whisper sweet nothings to him.
Inscrutably silent forever
And never inviting him in.
Impervious to his attention,
Content in it's own solitude.
One might think it vain and conceited
But a ruby can't feel, nor it should.
But she's formed of intricate levels,
Each one more intriguing than last.
He'll cherish each day spent beside her,
Together in future and past.
And though she may not be perfect
And sometimes fall victim to sin,
He'll search in his heart for forgiveness
For she'll do the same and for him.
There is a significant difference,
Though both bring rewards he can reap
But once he has passed into Heaven
A ruby he won’t get to keep.
It may be his treasured possession,
He may place it's value so high
But it's earthly fulfilment is fleeting
And gone in the blink of an eye.
With her he can store all his treasure,
Investing his love 'til the end.
Devotion to her won't be wasted
For in Heaven he'll see her again.
Can you compare a wife to a ruby?
To a man, could she be worth more?
He'll know, when he meets his soul mate
He'll wonder how he'd lived before.
Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
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