GOD's Perfect Woman "A Woman of Energy"

	Proverbs 31:13-16,19,24 "She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard ... She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff ... She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant."
	Here we find the Proverbs 31 lady as a woman who is not only the wife of a man of rank, but a wise, useful, and godly woman in her domestic responsibilities. She is a woman professing godliness, adorned with good works. (1 Timothy 2:10). It is evident that the Proverbs woman is dedicated to the welfare of her household. God does not expect more from us that He has given us the ability and strength to do. Verse 13 says she "worketh willingly with her hands". Working willingly is a mental attitude. It is being pleased with housework, having a desire to do it and taking delight in doing it - all for the purpose of glorifying God. No one expects a woman to like everything she has to do. But God does expect Christian women to do these things willingly as unto Him. If you keep your eternal values in front of you, then little things that bother you day by day won't be such a big deal.

	Values cannot be chosen on the basis of what other people think, you should base your values on what God expects of you. He is the one you are accountable to. Romans 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." You won't live by the right values and priorities if you don't plan: Your love relationship with the Lord Your devotion to your husband Your love relationship with your children Your devotion to your home Your devotion to Christian service Values must always be linked to the priorities God has already given us. You are a woman, everything you do will be based on the fact that you are one. If you're married, it will have an affect you as a wife. If you have children, it will effect them. It will effect the clothes you wear. It will effect your submission to the Lord and to your husband.

	List some things you want most to do with your life. Set some goals. Below is a list of some good goals: Be a soul winner Have a hunger for the Lord Jesus and for the Word of God Be good influence in lives you touch Be a help to husband through prayer love attention Help your children develop a good character a love for God a love for others eternal values Develop a deep and genuine love for other people Accept myself as God made me Use time to its fullest Be consistent in prayer Apply the Word of God and use it in my life Use the gifts God has given me in service for Him Have a strong sensitivity to sin, and practice of heart searching Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Have a joy and expectation in seeing my Saviour
	Make everyday count for the Lord. No values must distract from the responsibility God has already placed in your life. None of these important things should be excluded from a healthy, balanced Christian life. If your love relationship to your husband and children and your duties at home and church have become too numerous for you to have a quiet time with the Lord, then you have your priorities wrong. Periodically give yourself a priorities test. Make sure they are in proper order. Concentrate on your relationship with the Lord. Begin to love your husband as you should. Accept him exactly as he is today and learn not to focus on his faults. Praise him. Support what he says and does

	The Proverbs woman shuns slothfulness. None of us wants to admit to being slothful, but most of us succumb to the temptation to be lazy at times, and especially if laziness is wearing one of its disguises such as these: Procrastination - Characterized by hundreds of good intentions, but always gets put off. Rationalization - Talking ourselves out of doing hard things. No time - We never have the time to do the things we don't want to do, although we waste a lot of time doing things that are really not important.
	HOW TO CONQUER SLOTHFULNESS Have a physical exam to rule out any physical causes. Check your habits of eating, sleep, and exercise. You would be amazed how bad habits such as these can affect laziness. Take spiritual inventory - Are you growing as a Christian? Confess and repent of slothfulness Psalms 139:23,24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Apply the practice of diligence.

	Should you work? Now I realize this is a very controversial subject in todays society, but let's take a look at what God says in His Word regarding women working. You need to know God's will about this. Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Is it God's will for you to work? Your most important job is your home, your husband and your children. Verse 11 says "the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her." This means that our home, our family must be our first priority. When we are considering God's will about working, we need to find out, can we have our priorities right. No matter whether we work outside the home or in the home, be sure that the time you give your children and husband is quality time, not so much quantity time. Circumstances, personalities and compulsions must be prayerfully considered. God has a perfect plan for each woman who seeks it. In looking at the verses in Proverbs, it appears that the Proverbs woman was one who did work. Proverbs 31:16 "She considereth a field and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard. Proverbs 31:24 "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant." If you need or choose to make the decision to work outside of the home, pray about it and talk it over with your husband. A woman who goes against her husbands wishes to work outside the home, is first not obeying her husband as she should. But she is also creating strife and tension in the home. Sometimes, especially in todays society, it is necessary for the wife to work a job outside the home. If this is what you and your husband have chosen for you to do, that's fine - just remember your home and your family should be your first priority. If the kids are sick and need you at home, your employer is just going to have to understand. Psalms 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

	Pages in the study of GOD's PERFECT WOMAN [ Woman of Virtue | Woman of Trust | Woman of Energy ] [ Woman of Beauty | Woman of Stewardship | Woman of Service ] [ Woman of Preparedness | Woman of Prudence | Woman of Love ] [ Woman of Praise ]   Return to Bible Studies or Cathy's World Index   © 2001 - Cathy