Proverbs 31 Woman - Her Lifestyle

Proverbs 31:13-19 (NKJV)
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,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

Verses 13-19 of Proverbs 31 discusses the lifestyle of a virtuous wife. She fulfills all the traditional roles performed by women, working hard to care for her family.

My parents divorced when I was 5, and my mom had to go to work outside the home. She worked shift work for 40+ hours a week. I am the 3rd of three girls, and quite a few years behind the first two. Both of my sisters married and were out of the house while I was still young. The years that I should have be learning by example on how to clean/maintain a house, I was either home alone or with my aging grandfather. When I should have been a help to my mom as she worked, I was not. I grew up not knowing how to clean, or even realizing that I should want to clean. My room was horrible when I was child and teen. You've heard jokes about not being able to find the floor... that was no joke in my room. I would literally walk over all my junk, and dig to find what I was looking for.

I remember staying at friend's houses that were clean, but I really didn't take notice. A clean house and how to run a household was insignificant to me... that is until I met my future husband. I guess my mindset or heart set was changing. I remember walking into his house for the first time and being amazed at how clean and uncluttered it was. It was at that time that I started figuring out how I should clean and keep house. I began by asking those older than me that had houses I admired. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was seeking out a Titus 2 role model. the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5

Proverbs 31 gives us an outline on how to maintain our households. It is from this passage that we can discover how to be a homemaker.

Verse 13
She seeks wool and flax,
Seeks - careful evaluation
As a wife, we need to carefully evaluate all that we purchase. Is is something that is really needed? Is it the best for what our family needs? Are we getting the best price?

willingly works with her hands
Her own skills enable her to instruct and teach others, to assign tasks, and to supervise their work.

Verse 14
She brings her food from afar
She plans meals and menus carefully, taking care to provide a varied diet that is both nourishing and tasteful.

Verse 15
provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
She manages those under her care ... whether her children or employees. She is organized and assigns tasks. She plans work needed to be done each day, and selects the right person for the task. She does not stop with making the assignment, but also supervises their efforts.

Verse 16
She considers a field and buys it;
She spends her money wisely by considering whether or not something will be a good investment.

From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She looks at the economy and decides the best way to use her resources wisely.

This verse also refers back to verse 11 in which the husband safely trusts her. Because he trusts her, she has personal access to the family accounts and the discretionary power to spend it.

Verse 17
She girds herself with strength,
She takes care of herself and makes sure that she remains healthy.

Verse 18
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
She carefully checks finished work or products, and she exercises quality control.

And her lamp does not go out by night.
She makes sure her house is provided for, the bills are paid and things that are needed are in the cabinets.

Verse 19
her hand holds the spindle.
She is diligent in homemaking.

As you focus on verses 13-19, ask God to help you answer these questions:
Are you taking care of your household as you should be?
Do you consider your spending before you make a purchase?
Do you consider what is best for your family?

Seek out other scriptures dealing with diligence, and allow God to build in you the lifestyle of the Proverbs 31 Woman.