Proverbs 31 Wife Part 4: Strong and Eager to Do Her Work

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. Proverbs 31:16-19 (NIV)

     Ok I know we are all not buying a field and planting a vineyard.  So how can this part help any of us?  If we look at the Message Bible Translation it says she plants a garden.  So I look at this in my life and think of when I looked over our back yard and decided where to put our family garden.  I budget in the spring for plants and seeds.  This helps me to be a good steward of our family food budget and the kids and I like to work in the garden.  Some years we have lots to harvest and other years things don't always go as planed.  Working hard at growing a garden can be time consuming and hard.  But the benefits for our family can be great.  Some who cant plant a big garden can maybe plant an indoor herb garden.  Let the Lord lead you in this area.

     So this next part verse 17 talks about setting about our work vigorously.  I don't know about you but house work is not my most favorite thing to do.  I have to work at being eager to do my daily tasks.  Some days are better than others.  In the Message translation it says: "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started." (Proverbs 31:17 MSG)  I will be the first to admit I have days that I don't want to clean the living room again, or do the dishes for what seems like the 100th time that week.  That is not the best attitude I can have.  The Bible also tells us this.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters, - Colossians 3:23 May the favor of the LORD our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands. - Psalm 90:17 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. -Proverbs 16:13 This is just a few verses about work in the Bible. In verse 18 the Message Translation says this. "She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day." -Proverbs 31:18 I take this as when you have a project that you are working on and you know how important it is to get done you will work long and hard on it. This could be making meals ahead of time for your family, or for another family. This could be getting plans ready for your child's extra curricular actives. It could be preparing a place for a house guest who will be staying for a few days. What ever it is that we as wives are working on it has great value to the Lord, if we are doing it for His glory and with the right attitude. So verse 19 is one that in most translations I get a little discouraged. I don't know how to spin yarn. So I looked once again to the Message Translation. "She's skilled in the crafts of the home and hearth, diligent in homemaking." -Proverbs 31:19 Ok this I can work with. This verse is saying that as a Proverbs 31 wife I should be working hard at honing my homemaking skills. What does that mean? Well to me this means I need to be making a plan for my jobs during the day. A schedule of some sort. I need to be menu planning for the week. I also feel that teaching my kids these skills helps me to hone them better. The best way to hone any skill is to keep doing the skill, even if it does not work the first time. Try it again and adjust as needed. Being skilled in homemaking, to also means to be hospitable to those in your home. Those that live with you and those that are guest. Find ways to make your home welcoming to all. The first person that your home should be welcoming to is your husband. Yes, I said it, I know it's his house too. Why should he feel "welcome"? Ok ladies hear it is, we as women can sometimes be cold to our husbands. We can make a home environment that he dreads coming home to. Remember we are to bring him good not harm all the days of our lives. Lets welcome our husbands home, when he get home from work or where ever he is coming home from. Here is my challange for all of you this week. How can you hone your homemaking skills this week? How can you make your husband feel welcome in his own home? Until Next Time, Pitters