Jesus is a Jeweler

Jesus is a jeweler.

When I think of Jesus, most often I see Him as either the Lamb or the Lion.  Other times, the Great High Priest.  The King.  The Lord. 

There are also times when I see Him as a craftsman.  A carpenter.  A potter. 

And while He is all of that and much, much more, lately though, I’m learning to see Jesus as a jeweler, an artisan of gemstones. 

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

The Proverbs 31 woman.  If you’re like me, you read with awe and appreciation this description of the ideal woman.  Her brilliance is undeniable.  She radiates confidence.   But like any precious stone, before she shone, she undoubtedly had to be broken.

Perhaps her first vendor tried to undersell her because she was a woman.

Perhaps the first seed that she planted didn’t yield a substantial harvest.

Perhaps the first meal that she prepared was burnt.

Perhaps the first dress that she sewed was unevenly stitched.

Perhaps the first deal that she brokered fell through.

But she was valiant…virtuous…and valuable.

God doesn’t set unattainable standards.  If the Proverbs 31 woman is an illustration of female excellence comparable to the richness of rubies, then what perspective is He trying to give us about the craftsmanship of our character and calling?

Jesus is a jeweler.

Some consider the ruby the rarest and most precious gemstone.  Its vibrancy and scarcity make it most valuable among stones.

But before it’s displayed, it’s processed.  Rubies, once discovered, are then crafted.  Heated.  Cut.  Shaped.  Polished. Set.

Lapidary art, transforming a stone into a decorative piece, is a lengthy process.  First, skilled lapidaries heat the stone.  In a controlled environment, these crystals are warmed so that, ultimately, their color will improve and their value will increase.      

Next, the gem is cut.  It is stripped of some of its rough exterior, prepping it for its ornamental or decorative use. 

The gem cutter then shapes the precious stone.  The stone is ground using a metal plate embedded with grit.  This grit is always a harder stone than the gem itself. 

Now, the jewel is polished.  The polish helps light reflect from the stone’s surface.

Lastly, the gemstone is placed in its setting.

Jesus is a jeweler.

Perhaps His process is something like this:

First, we’re heated.  The controlled environment?  A furnace of affliction. 

Next, we’re cut, stripped of the roughness that makes us dull.  We’re admonished to cut off gossip, conceit, envy, jealousy, maliciousness, and even small-mindedness. 

After this, we’re shaped.  The gem cutter allows gritty and coarse situations to mold us for His ultimate purpose.

Now, we’re polished.  We’re perfected to a mirror-like (Word) finish that will help us reflect His truth.

Lastly, we’re set.  We’re placed where we are able to shine most brightly.

Besides its fiery, red color and rarity, there are other qualities that make the ruby uniquely special.  Hardness, cleavage and fracture, luster, density and magnetism are physical characteristics that help identify gemstones.  Hardness is a mineral’s ability to resist scratches and tolerate stressors.  Rubies are a nine on the hardness scale.  A mineral’s cleavage is how many directions the crystal breaks into and fracture is an irregular surface break.  Rubies are virtually clear of any inclusions or fractures.  Luster is the way a mineral reflects light.  A ruby’s luster is vitreous or glasslike.  Density measures how heavy an object is for its size.  The ruby is high in density.  Magnetism is a stone’s ability to attract iron magnets.  Rubies can also be magnetic. 

As aspiring Proverbs 31 women, there are also qualities that make us easily identifiable. 

Hardness – II Timothy 2:3

Cleavage and Fracture – II Corinthians 4:8-9

Luster – Matthew 5:16

Density – II Corinthians 4:16-17

Magnetism – Proverbs 27:17

Jesus is a jeweler.

At His appraisal, what are we worth?  We’re valiant, virtuous and valuable! Our ruby-like beauty and splendor can change the lives of everyone around us.  Shine, Sister, shine. 

PRINCIPLE: How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter!  the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.  Song of Solomon 7:1