The Proverbs 31 Woman's Attitude Toward Work

Last month we reviewed the Proverbs 31 Woman's attitude toward her husband."The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her safely, so that he has no lact of honest gain or need of dishonest spoil. "Proverbs 31:12 Amplified Version. We also discovered a picture from several of the Old Testement Women what our hearts should look like toward our husbands. We were encouraged by some suggestions on how we could cultivate character qualities that would enhance your husbands trust in you.

This month as we look over Proverbs 31:13 you will that this next verse deals with the Proverbs 31 Womans attitude toward work. Webster defines attitude as a "Posture; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose" In this Gleanings of Grace we are going to suggest some ways to gain this posture or position toward what often becomes the mundane, our everyday chores, responsibilities, and routine tasks.

Proverbs 31:13 "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands."

Today, I don't have to weave cloth and sew in order to have clothing for my family but I still have to maintain and manage a household and get meals on the table. In this verse the Proverbs 31 Woman is seen as assuming a position toward her normal everyday work, something that we would call an attitude. Do you have a plan on how to develop a position of eagerness as you preform your labors of love? What is your attitude toward this work God has set before you today?

Beautiful in God's Eye for some "attitude helpers".

• #1Pray daily--Pray for those you serve and for yourself. Pray specifically about your attitude toward your work. Prayer can give you God-given perspective that lifts your duties in the home out of the physical realm and trasports them into the spiritual realm. Colossians 3:23
• #2 Recite Scripture-- Make a list of verses right out of God's word that encourage you to be joyous in your work. Psalms 118:24 and Philippians 4:4
• #3 Do your work as if unto the Lord-- When things really seem unbearable... another verse comes to my resuce Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as if unto the Lord and not to men." This reminder adds fresh joy to my empty heart.
• #4 Tackle your tasks--Energetically- Ecclesiates 9:10 ~ Creatively find new ways to make work fun ~ Joyfully!
• #5 Look for benefits-- Here is how Edith Schaffer approached the tasks and the benefit she found in doing so:
  • "First I say silently to the Lord: "Thank You that [this] is a practical way to serve You tea...Thank you for making it so clear that as we do things...in service to other, we are really doing it for You."
  • Secondly, I go on to remember something of this sort:" Now Fran [her husband] really needs this...refreshment...a bit of blood sugar...good nourishment, too, for whatever is coming next.
  • Third, I then walk up the stairs...thinking:"Who is keeping their waistline? Here I am doing aerobic up-and-down-the stairs excersise."

Edith looked for the benefits she received as she served others. Doing this can lighten your burdens and tasks.

• #6 Pause and rest--There's nothing wrong with a well earned rest. God warns against idleness (Proverbs 31:27) but He never condems our physical need for rest.
• #7 Watch what you eat!--Doing God's assignment with a willing and cheerful heart requires physical energy. Be sure you give your body what it needs.
• #8 Value each day--The Proverbs 31 Woman enjoys the rich blessings of er children's and her husband's praise (verses 28-31), but she earned it by willingly doing her work one day at a time and one task at a time.




So, dear friend, what can you do today to improve your posture and position toward work? How will you walk with God today? How will you go about the appointed tasks that lay before you? It is up to you. I would like to encourage you to try some of these suggestions and let me know if they work!