One of the more common laments in the man-o-sphere is about the dearth of “good women,” presumably preferring to the ideal woman who is naturally submissive, physically attractive, spiritually-minded, and is good at taking care of the home. This ideal woman is, essentially, a cross between the woman described in Proverbs 31 and the woman described in the Song of Solomon. Note also that these descriptions are divinely inspired, which means that this description of the ideal woman has God’s stamp of approval.
And also note that this woman is exceedingly difficult to find:
Who can find a virtuous wife? for her worth is far above rubies.
As King Lemuel asks this question in Proverbs 31, it is important to keep in mind that he asks it as sort of rhetorical lament. He, like men even today, complains about the absolute dearth of good, virtuous women. There truly is nothing new under the sun.
Furthermore, notice the value that King Lemuel ascribes to this woman: “her worth is far above rubies.” This suggests that this type of woman is so exceedingly difficult to find that her worth (price) indicates a severe shortage. To use economic parlance, the demand for virtuous women is exceedingly high and the supply is exceedingly low which has resulted in an incredibly high market price.
Now, at this point, the intelligent wife-seeking man will realize that he has a couple of options. He can increase his market value, as it were, to the point where he has the ability to acquire for himself a virtuous wife, or he can simply adjust his goals to his actual market value.
