The Godly Working Woman

When we read the Proverbs 31 Woman Passage (also located at the end of this article), we see that a virtuous woman is a faithful wife who is a self-employed woman with many honorable traits and she has much to offer her household and the people outside of it.  If we compare ourselves to her, we may fall short.  However, this does not mean that God does not desire for us to be this excellent.  The scriptures are holy.  Therefore, these are a true glimpse into the pattern of a virtuous working woman that we should desire to follow.

An important thing to note about the virtuous working woman scriptures is that each statement about her in Proverbs 31 are from several different people.  So we know that these are different aspects of what it means to be a virtuous woman.  However, they are brought together to create a whole picture of one woman who, although she makes her own money, also “looks well to the ways of her household.”  Keeping the home well while working in it is a recurring theme of the Proverbs 31 woman.  Plus, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.  The fruit is the reward of her hands so she is paying others to produce a vineyard on that field that she owns.  What a savvy business woman!  In addition, the Proverbs 31 woman also has maidens, but this does not mean that she is idle.  She’s been running another business from her home using her sewing skills to make clothes, and sell and deliver them to storekeepers.   Do we honestly believe that she planted an entire vineyard on her own and was running her own store in town?  She would never be home!

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Now in the New Testament, look at what the elder women of the Christian church are taught and told to teach the younger women.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. ~Titus 2:3-5 KJV

As many of us know, working away from the home is a common desire for women in this world. We are taught repeatedly that women should build successful careers outside of the home. However, when God’s word says “keepers at home,” it has been changed so that even now, many say “keepers of the home.”  This “of the” subtly changes the meaning so that it sounds like it is equally acceptable for a wife to work away from the home, therefore supporting the worldly ideals of career-building.

Another New Testament scripture teaches us that younger women who are widows should adhere to the following pattern:

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. ~1 Timothy 5:14-15 KJV

Therefore, knowing that we should remain at home and have it well-kept, the question then is “why?”  Obviously, we should agree with the scriptures because God said so, but because of His great generosity, He tells us why we should be so strict in our lives.  In the Titus 2:3-5 scripture, it is so that the word of God is not blasphemed.  We also see in the 1 Timothy 5:14-15 scripture that when younger widows do not follow this pattern, it gives the enemy the opportunity to say bad things about us as Christians.  The only exception to this in the New Testament seems to be when women help in the gospel. According to the pattern of a virtuous woman and godly women scriptures, what kind of laboring do you think they did and in what manner?

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. ~Philippians 4:3 KJV

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. ~Romans 16:1-2 KJV

Now the word blaspheme means to not take holy or sacred things seriously.  For instance, if we worked well to keep our strict doctrine regarding the outside manner of a holy, Christian woman, we would have a better report among all the other religions because they would see the women of the Christian faith and say, “hmm, they fear their God” or “hmm, they always dress modestly” or “hmm, I wish I could be so dedicated.” Instead, unbelievers are looking at us and are not taking us seriously. If we look through their eyes, are we convincing them to fear our God or respect His guidance?  It should be clear that according to our own doctrine, the mark has been missed.

It is easy to see that most of today’s Christian women blend in with, and have many of the same aspirations of career and wearing fashionable attire, as the women of the world.  There is no visual separation of being “set apart.”  Yet, we see that with other religions even though we know that their religion is in vain.  Remember, the Bible says in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:.”  But, we’ve been convinced that this means that the outside of our lives doesn’t matter.  However, it does matter.  In fact, although God looks at the heart, the world looks at the outside (1 Sam. 16:7).  Yet, because of unbelief in God’s word, a large majority of Christian women have been far removed from certain details of the “virtuous” and “Godly woman” doctrine that corrects us on the outside.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. ~1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV

I challenge women today to embrace the New Testament scriptures regarding married women.  First, pray about the work of being a keeper at home, showing modesty, sobriety, obedience to your husband, and choose to be unadorned with the ornaments of this world.  Perhaps in keeping with the godly woman doctrine, you may eventually have the successes of the virtuous, working, Proverbs 31 woman; running your own successful business from your home by utilizing a skill and selling your merchandise to shopkeepers, paying maids, and even buying yourself a field for others to turn it into a vineyard.  This doesn’t sound like a hindered woman, these are the traits of a successful, God-fearing woman who is a keeper at home.  Until then, pray for the first things to be accomplished well so that they are not left undone.  Do this with joy for God, for the people who see you, and for your own heart.  As a helper to our husband, we have a great calling and a great work from God for a reason that is worth it’s weight in gold.♥

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