Proverbs 31 - A Godly Woman's Work

Continuing our discussion on a Proverbs 31 woman, this is what revive our hearts sent as a teaser for day five. The whole thing can be read here.

A Godly Woman's Work

Do you realize that the work you do today is important to God? Learn how you can glorify God in the way you work, and in where you work.*

• It is a privilege and a high and holy calling to tend to the practical, physical affairs of your home.
• Your good works ought to first be done at home, ministering to the needs of your family. Then as God gives you time, opportunity, available resources—or in a different season of life—take those gifts and abilities and expand them.
• As you handle the practical details related to the care of your family, there is profit. Work is good!

And here is the Scripture to accompany it.

10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29"Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

In keeping with today's theme I decided to highlight how a woman lives out her spirituality in the home. How does she live out what God teaches her. Some of that is in a practical way.

Can you see how busy a Proverbs 31 woman is?
She doesn't sit around doing nothing. She keeps at it. She takes time for her husband and children, but she keeps working. She considers, she thinks, she acts. Not only does she work, but she thinks and imparts wisdom to others. She rises early, she works late.

I read this and I see a woman who works in the home and out of the the home. She buys fields, she takes things to market, she tends her household needs. Granted...she has help! (see v.14) She'd have too in order to get this all done. But she manages, she provides and through it all her husband is blessed, as well as her children.

This is a woman who lives out her faith. She spreads it around...so she doesn't ONLY work outside the home or only in the home, she doesn't only spend time with her children and/or husband, she doesn't devote herself to one aspect of her life.

This is the woman that we are called to be. Not lazy, not devoted to one thing only, but a woman who does all that she is able to, working hard at it. Living out her faith in practical means.

So Nancy asks us

Let’s just stop a moment and let me ask you as a woman: Have you embraced willingly and with joy . . . have you accepted the domain that God has given to you as a woman? Have you accepted the responsibility, the privilege of caring for the physical, practical needs of your family? Now, I don’t mean by that do you always love cooking three meals a day, washing clothes, cleaning toilets, mopping floors? I’m not saying in and of itself do you love those tasks?

I’m saying have you willingly accepted the calling and the privilege that it is to serve your family as a woman who reverences God? Is this the outworking of your love for God in terms of how you express it in your home? That’s God’s calling, and there’s blessing to be had when we embrace God’s calling and say, “Yes, Lord, I will accept that. I will work, and I will work out of my home. I’ll be a worker at home to make sure that the needs of my family are met.”

Have to admit...I'm not always there! There are so many other things I'd rather be doing...browsing the internet, playing games, walking around aimlessly enjoying the weather, chatting with friends, but GOD has called me to more...and that more I need to busy with. I need to more frequently get out and do more that isn't my focus centred...but rather family and work centered. This today,was a good reminder of that.