I never wanted to work outside the home. We have been married for 25 years, And for 23 of those years, this has been an on going issue in our home. I wanted to home school our daughter, take care of the house, tend to our garden, and serve my husband. I mean that is the biblical thing to do right? God would bless our efforts and our finances because I was doing what He calls women to do. Proverbs 31 was ( and still is) my go to scripture for how to be a godly woman.
Lets look at that scripture. Proverbs 31:10-31.
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10 [a] An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself[b] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[c]
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
I won’t dissect it word for word, but no where in that scripture does it say she MUST stay home. Is it easier to accomplish these virtues from home? Of course. Does it show a lot of faith to stay home and live on one income? Absolutely. Can a godly woman be a godly woman and still work outside the home? Yes, yes, and yes!
The thing is, I wanted to stay home. I wanted to set my own schedule. I wanted to set up meal plans and do the grocery shopping. I wanted to do the cooking and serve my family. I want, I want, I want…….!
It has FINALLY occurred to me, that it isn’t about what I want at all. It is about what God wants. And apparently, God wants me out in the mission field. Now when I read Proverbs 31, I read it with fresh perspective. I see that I am doing all the tasks of a Godly woman, simply by being a Godly woman in my heart.

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