The Kitchen Floor

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 KJV

You have probably seen this verse, even if is was only on the Insta-bible and Pinterest. Typically, they have a pretty little graphic with something like “she’s worth more than jewels”. A lot of people like to frame it in little girl’s rooms. If you grew up hearing it in church, it was most likely on Mother’s Day and read from another translation saying a virtuous wife. But to understand the rich truth of this verse, we need to dissect it and its historical significance. 

Most of us probably are under the assumption that diamonds are the most valuable of the precious stones. Precious stones are classified under emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and rubies. When researching rubies and their value, I was mind-blown to discover that rubies hold the highest value of any precious stone! A gemologist measures stones on a Moh scale, a scale that measures the hardness and durability of a stone. On this scale, a diamond scores a 10.0, but a ruby scores a 9.0. Even with their strength, they are subject to chipping and fracturing. 

Rubies are classified in value by their richness of color; the most valuable is called “blood red”. In ancient folklore, they are described as having the power to shine even in the absence of light. They are referred to in Job and Proverbs, describing the value of wisdom. Some other biblical references are the breastplate of the high priest having rubies mounted on it, and rubies are also mentioned when describing heaven, the foundation of the new Jerusalem. Historically, they have been best connected to royalty due to value and accessibility. The most expensive ruby to date was an 8.62-carat cushion cut that was unheated (more on this treatment in a minute) and sold for 3.64 million dollars!

Out of all my research on rubies, this is by far my favorite fact. All natural rubies have imperfections in them. God of all creation put an imperfection in the most valuable precious stone on this planet. I don’t know about you, but for my perfectionist nature and people-pleasing tendency, that’s life-giving information! Rubies undergo a heat treatment to remove, actually burn out, the impurities and raise their value. The heat treatment process is performed in a heated tube, similar to glass blowing, and the tube is maintained at one of two temperatures: 2400°F for low-temperature treatment or 3300°F for high-temperature treatment, which is more common.  Rubies can only be heated a certain number of times, specific to each stone, and the crafter has to carefully and attentively watch each stone with his full attention while it’s in the fire. He cannot take his eyes off even for a second, because the very instant the ruby’s imperfections have been burned out, the crafter has to remove the ruby from the heat treatment or the stone will explode, destroying its value entirely. 

There have been many trials in my life that have felt like the high-heat treatment. Moments where I felt like one more degree increase, or a second longer in the fire, was going to be the end of me. Isaiah 49:16 has been a verse I’ve clung to my entire life. When I was 4, our family moved from Oklahoma to Alabama for a church, and I remember my little porcelain statue of a hand standing upright with a little girl safely tucked into it. Under her feet, on the base, are etched these words: “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands”. These words meant everything to me at four. The same God who created the world, the one whom everyone in church was talking about, held me in His palm. The chaos of the move from one congregation to another, moving multiple states, and having just recently added my little sister to our family, had created a perfect storm of feeling unseen as a little kid. I know, it seems impossible to remember things from when I was 4, but I have very clear memories of the majority of my life, starting at 15 months old. The comfort of the Holy Spirit, even then, is what still ministers to my heart today. I just wrapped the same little porcelain statue from the shelf by my bed to make my 19th move in 40 years, and His words are still what help me feel seen and known. He will not leave me in the fire, my walls are always right in front of Him, and He will keep His eye on me the whole time. Even if I feel like I’m about to combust, He hasn’t taken His eyes off me, but He will let me stay in the fire to burn all the impurities out. The process of purification, which is what raises the value of a ruby, is also a parallel to the process of sanctification. While we are not more “valuable” because we are being sanctified, we are more impactful. It’s the changes that other’s notice, how we live as a Christ-follower is the best witness of the Gospel. 

So let’s recap rubies and how it relates to us: 

Strong, but still fragile 

We carry a lot as women in this world, but we are still fragile. It’s ok to need Him to sustain us as we fulfill the callings He has placed on our lives. In fact, we can’t fulfill our callings without Him. You can be both Strong and fragile simultaneously. 

Holds extreme value, even above what most would think was the most valuable

Just because someone didn’t see your value, what you had to offer, and the depths of who you are doesn’t mean you aren’t needed, wanted, or loved. Christ holds you at a value level that He sacrificed His life for you, you hold immense value to God. 

Every ruby has natural imperfections

As we say at our house, no one is perfect but Jesus. So quit holding yourself to an unrealistic standard that you were never created to meet. 

Imperfections are burned out by a purification process involving heat

Those moments it feels like you’re in the fire, you are, but it’s going to be good in the end. You will be set free of so many things that are holding you down, tainting the value you have, and you will be an absolute beauty to behold. 

The Jeweler keeps their eye on the ruby and pulls it out at just the right time

God has His full focus on you. He will not let you get burned, perish, or implode. He knows exactly how much you can handle, and what is needed. He has a plan, even if it hurts right now, it will be good by the end. 

The most valuable ruby is blood red 

The most valuable you will ever be is covered in the Blood of Christ. Nothing you ever do, achieve, say, or obtain will make you as valuable as being God’s daughter. 

They shine in the dark

When we know who we are in Christ, we reflect Him, bearing His image, in the darkest places. A light that shines on a hill. (Matthew 5:14-16)

They are part of the eternal kingdom. 

Rubies are eternal, and when we are walking in our place as daughters of the King, the enemy cannot snatch us our of His hand. (Romans 8:38)

I can’t help but thank God He crafted us and watches us closely when we are in the fire, knowing exactly how much heat we need to rid us of imperfections and pulls us out of the fire at the perfect time. He is also fully aware of each of our individual needs, whether we can handle a little more purification this round in the treatment, or if we need a shorter treatment to avoid fracturing. But through it all, He never takes His eyes off you, not even for a split second. He knows you fully, loves you endlessly, and delights in giving you His full attention.  I know if we had the chance to sit down over a cup of coffee, we could share endless testimonies of times we felt like we were in a heat treatment, but the beauty of those times is our stories are not better than another; they all show the multitude of ways the Lord purifies us. What I have been through may be nothing like your testimony, it may have some similarities, or it may feel like I’m reading off the pages of your life. Wherever we intersect within our testimonies, we can agree that God is creative in the purification process and that being refined is not always enjoyable, but always creates a beautiful, Holy result in us.