Proverbs 31.13-16
“She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.”
The principle here is found in the last phrase: she “works with willing hands.” This woman has a strong work ethic. She does not seek an easy, pampered life. Rather, she willingly does the work that her household needs to be done.
Wool and flax are a reference to the virtuous woman spinning and weaving in order to provide for the clothing and textile needs of her family. She would get her fibers (wool and flax) either from her own flocks/fields or by purchase, and then process the fiber, spin it, weave it, and then do further processing (bleaching, dying, etc) as needed. Willing hands, indeed!
Work ethic, of course, is a consistent theme in the Book of Proverbs, so it is no surprise that this is an attribute of a godly woman. She sets an example for all of us. Every follower of Jesus should “work with willing hands.”
“In diligent work there is profit, but mere talk produces poverty.” (Proverbs 14.23)
“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 13.4)
Christians should have the reputation as people who work hard and who work smart. This is because we should do our work for the Audience of One. Note again that the heart of the godly woman’s motive was that she fears the Lord. This is the message of Colossians 2.23-24:
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
The Christian farmer who prays to Jesus at sunrise should also be working for Jesus in the fields during the day. To pray but not do good work and then expect a harvest is contrary to God’s design. To labor for the harvest but neglect worship and prayer is also contrary to God’s will. God is glorified when both our prayer and our labor are directed by trust in him and faithfulness to his truth.
Doing our job every day requires having a vision, planning, setting goals, executing the plan, learning and making adjustments, and laboring to achieve results. This is God’s way. He is pleased when we achieve things and produce results … provided our hearts are right.
God is concerned with the what, why, and how of our daily efforts.
- What = the actual work we do. Waiting tables is good. Robbing banks is bad.
- Why = the motives for our work. Seeking personal glory is bad. Seeking to be productive, impacting others, and glorifying God is good.
- How = the methods of our work. Doing our job with character and competence is good. Doing our job poorly or without integrity is bad.
“Working heartily for the Lord” includes biblical principles AND the physics of God’s created world. God is the author of all truth. He authored the bible, and he expects us to obey its principles. God also authored the physical world, and he expects us to obey its principles.
The godly woman of Proverbs 31 is a shining example for the followers of Jesus in the 21st Century. She exemplifies what it means to work with willing hands for the Audience of One.
