[The wife of noble character] opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (Proverbs 31:20).

The wife of noble character is a dynamo of industry, a business mogul, an entrepreneur par excellence.  According to Proverbs 31, she's always rolling her sleeves up and getting to work (v. 17), doing it all with eager hands (v. 13), crusing around like a fleet of merchant ships (v. 14), investing in real estate (v. 16), working hard from dawn (v. 15) to dusk (v. 18), and making lots of money (v. 18).  She's an incredible businesswoman -- to an extent that can be surprising, given the way that most women from ancient Middle-Eastern cultures are characterized.  But what I think is most interesting, in the midst of all this industry, is the level of mercy and compassion that is specifically and deliberately highlighted in Proverbs 31:20:  "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."  She may know her way around the figurative "board room" or "factory floor" -- but she's no capitalist pig.  She's a merciful mogul.

I wish there was more of an explanation of how she does it.  I wish we had more concrete suggestions for how this element of mercy works itself out in the midst of so much productivity.  Because our modern economies could learn a lot from her.  Wouldn't you agree?  In our day and age, it seems like it's one or the other:  ruthless profitability or threadbare idealistic crusading.  In business, it's all business.  In charity, it's all charity.  I'm sure there are a few organizations that try (and, to a certain extent, succeed) in blurring these lines a bit.  But still, we're woefully short on good examples of there "merciful moguls," like the wife of noble character in Proverbs 31.

Who do you know that's been able to balance these seemingly contradictory pursuits?  What makes her (or him) remarkable?  What are some of the current-day success stories, that might inspire us in the way of the wife of noble character?  Or how about in your life?  How can you conform yourself to the image of the merciful mogul?  Think about:  to which side of the spectrum do you typically lean -- and how might you bring about more balance?  There's a lot to be learned from the example of the wife of noble character.