Faithful Hands & A Willing Heart: Honorable Work in the Life of a Virtuous Woman
Updated: Aug 13
"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands." Proverbs 31:13
Welcome to the third month of our becoming journey. In last month's Project 31 post, we learned that trust in the Lord is the essence of a Proverbs 31 woman. We unpacked our trust issues and focused on becoming more trustworthy in our interactions with others. This month, I'm excited to unpack another key trait of the virtuous woman presented in Proverbs 31--she who works willingly, diligently, humbly, and honorably.
Proverbs 31 uses the following words to describe the action of the virtuous woman presented:
She seeks (v13)
She willingly works (v13)
She brings (v4)
She provides (v15)
She considers (v16)
She girds herself (v17)
She strengthens herself (v17)
She perceives (v18)
She extends to the poor (v20)
She makes and supplies (v24)
By reflecting on Proverbs 31 and the example set by Ruth, who Scripture describes as a virtuous woman, we can learn how to approach our work with the same faithful hands and willing heart. Whether you're a woman in the workforce, a woman working to nurture your home and care for those inside it, a woman who works from passion rather than necessity, or a woman doing all three--the same principles apply.
Whatever you do, do it honorably, diligently, humbly, and effectively.
The Proverbs 31 Woman: Diligent & Wise
The woman presented in Proverbs 31 is our example of faithful hands, a willing heart, and wise discernment. She embodies the characteristics of discipline, initiative, stewardship, intentional labor, and wisdom in her work. She reveals how a virtuous woman should approach providing for her family.
"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good...." Proverbs 31:13-18
Proverbs 31 describes a woman who not only willingly works to provide for her family, but is trusted to work to provide for her family. Her husband entrusts her to consider a field and buy it. She is discerning, is allowed to make decisions on behalf of her family, and has access to the funds necessary to make those decisions. While this may seem like a given in today's society, this would be uncommon at the time the Scripture was written--as uncommon as a virtuous wife.
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her..." Proverbs 31:10-11
While society has changed, women's rights have improved, and often it is the husband who is not trusted to make decisions on behalf of the family, we as women should still strive to be as rare as the virtuous women described in Scripture.
We should pray for discernment as we make decisions. We should take pride in how we provide for our family--whether that is financial provision or nurturing provision such as cooking, cleaning, and clothing the ones under our care. We should gird ourselves with strength--spiritual and physical so that we can best perform our duties, even if our duty is only to ourself and the Lord. And the work from our hands should yield good fruit.
We see in Proverbs 31 that "with her profits she plants a vineyard." A vineyard can be seen as a fruitful investment. It takes time for the grapes to ripen--the fruit to mature--but when it does, it can be harvested. The woman could then use the fruit from the vineyard for the satisfaction of her family, or it could be sold for financial gain. Whether for personal or professional use, she has made a wise investment that bore her family good fruit.
The vineyard in Proverbs 31 represents:
foresight,
stewardship,
patience,
discipline,
cultivation,
and long-term fruitfulness
These are all characteristics that we can embody today, with the counsel of the Holy Spirit, as we make wise investments on behalf of ourselves and our family that bear good fruit.
Examples of Wise Investments & Good Fruit:
Investing in Spiritual & Personal Growth
A woman who spends time in God's word and in prayer will develop discernment, wisdom, peace, endurance, and spiritual maturity which are fruits themselves that will also equip her to produce good fruit in all areas of her life: in her professional work, in her personal relationships, and in her parenting.
Accompanying spiritual growth with personal healing can be the best investment you ever make in yourself. While remaining rooted in Christ, a woman may also seek out counseling, mentorship, repentance, developing emotional maturity, breaking generational cycles, healing childhood wounds, and learning healthy love. This woman becomes the kind of stable, wise, virtuous rock of her family.
Investing in Personal Stewardship
Outside of our spiritual growth and personal healing, we as virtuous women should invest in our health and home. This may look like resting, nourishing our bodies with nutritious foods, moving and strengthening our bodies, like the Proverbs 31 woman, and caring for our home in a way that promotes warmth, safety, order, rest, and peace. When we do this, we become a more fruitful vessel for self and others. We enjoy the fruit of our discipline with long-life not riddled with health issues and physical pain. And we create an environment that nurtues others as well as ourselves.
Investing in Family & Community
When we become a virtuous woman, our very presence is the soil in which good fruit grows. We should be present in our relationships, in our friendships, seek out opportunties to mentor others, show hospitality, serve others, and build meaningful community. As we pour wisdom into our community, our community pours back into us. Investing in community allows us to cultivate good fruit in others and receive good fruit in return.
If we are called to the role of mother, there is perhaps no greater ground to water with wisdom. As we raise our children to know the Lord and demonstrate the same spiritual wisdom we've cultivated, our children become our greatest fruit. But we must become the wise and virtuous woman first, before becoming the wise and virtuous wife, before becoming the wise and virtuous mother.
Investing in Skills & Education
To further develop ourselves so that we may serve those around us and provide for our family, we may invest in learning a trade or skill, pursuing education, developing creative gifts, growing a business, or learning wise financial stewardship.
Investing in Wise Financial Stewardship
Wise financial stewardship may include having a savings plan or investment strategy, hiring a financial advisor or accountant, having a retirement plan, paying off debt, and living within means while also planning for future abundance.
As we steward our finances, it is important to not forget the less foruntate. The Proverbs 31 woman not only provides for her family, she also provides well for those she employs, and those who have nothing.
"She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20
Scripture frequently reminds us to have a generous heart, and the Proverbs 31 woman demonstrates this. She is not only concerned with the matters of her family. She has faithful hands and a willing heart to serve everyone around her, including those who cannot return the gesture. Yet, her giving still cultivates good fruit--good fruit inside of her and good fruit around her as she uplifts others.
Investing in Work that Serves Others
A Proverbs 31 woman not only provides, she brings value--to her family and to those around her. In today's society, there are many jobs a woman of God could choose to take on. We do not all have to be ministers, missionaries, or even faith writers to embody the heart posture of a virtuous woman.
A Proverbs 31 woman has a heart that willingly serves others, and we should pray for the Holy Spirit's help in embodying that heart posture in all that we do.
As we serve others in our profession, just like in our charitable service and personal relationships, we cultivate good fruit inside and outside of us.
Eternal Investments
Ultimately, a Proverbs 31 woman invests in things that will outlive her. She invests in people, wisdom, faith, love, service, truth, legacy, and obedience to God.
Ruth: An Example of Humility, Honor, & Quiet Faithfulness
"And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman." Ruth 3:11
Ruth is recognized by Boaz as a virtuous woman because she:
was a faithful friend to Naomi, refusing to abandon her after the death of her husband and two sons
worked hard, humbly, and honestly to glean (she did not operate from laziness, entitlement, or flirt with the men watching the fields to provide for her)
when Boaz showed her favor, she humbly thanked him and asked why (again, she didn't feel entitled to, but grateful for his help)
Ultimately, Ruth gained a reputation of honesty and integrity and was rewarded by Boaz, who stepped up as her kinsman-redeemer, marrying her and offering both her and Naomi security. This story is beautiful on many levels, and it's often used to comfort women who long for marriage but are still waiting on their kindgom spouse. For the sake of this post though, I want the focus to be on Ruth's character not Boaz's redemption.
If Ruth did not have the heart and hands of a virtuous woman, operating in faithfulness, humility, honesty, and integrity, the story would've gone very differently.
Self-Assessment:
Which of the following characteristics do you feel you demonstrate consistently? Which do you struggle with?
faithfulness to God and spouse
humility
honesty
integrity
wise stewardship
patience
discipline
cultivation of fruit
diligence
wisdom
trustworthiness
This month, pray specifically for the Lord's help in cultivating the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman.
No matter what profession or role you have or don't have, every woman works. The Proverbs 31 woman is not defined by her job title, but by the heart and hands she uses to accomplish her tasks. Do all things in love, faithfulness, and trustworthiness.
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