An Industrious Woman - Jo Foo

I’ve heard many terms used to describe the woman in Proverbs 31. Virtuous, Perfect, Valiant.... but of more recent times, Industrious. When I first heard the word “Industrious” as a descriptor, I thought to myself, ‘I can’t do perfect, but I can certainly do industrious’!

The dictionary describes “industrious” as being hardworking, dedicated, and a problem solver. And while she is certainly hardworking, the following 3 characteristics were what resonated with me the most, in identifying the “industriousness” of the Proverbs 31 Woman.

1. She sets aside time to be with God

Make no mistake, this is a woman who works really hard and is never idle and doesn’t waste any time.

Proverbs 31:15 ‘She gets up while it is still dark’ (NIV)

Proverbs 31:18 ‘Her lamp does not go out at night’ (NIV)

While it’s easy to think that she is the first to awaken and the last to sleep because she has much to do, I believe she did this because she intentionally carved out time to be alone with God. The passage describes other women who do noble things, but this woman ‘surpasses them all’, because she fears the Lord. And a woman who fears the Lord, is a woman who pursues Him, and seeks out alone time to be with Him.

This is a woman who understands that the busier she gets, the greater the need to spend time with God.

As an entrepreneur, I often find myself brimming with passionate ideas that either keep me up at night or wake me up at strange hours in the morning. When that happens, I’ve learnt to recognise that God is nudging me to be alone with Him while it is still dark because He has ideas and strategies He wants to give me. And often, some of my very best ideas, are a product of those 4AM rises.

2. She plans ahead and stewards well

Proverbs 31:21 ‘When is snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.’ (NIV)

Proverbs 31:25 ‘...she can laugh at the days to come.’ (NIV)

Proverbs 31:25 is often quoted on its own as a proviso to not worry about the future – to just laugh, trust God and let be. But if you read this verse in context, I realise that the only reason the Proverbs 31 woman could indeed laugh at her future is because she worked really hard in the present. She is well prepared for her future, so she can laugh! She is prepared, for all types of weather. Have you prepared your resources for bad weather? For when the unimaginable happens and uncertainties abound?

The Proverbs 31 woman had a family to feed, Proverbs 31:15 says she ‘provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.’ She had people reliant on her and she worked hard to ensure that they were clothed and fed, in spite of what weather lies ahead.

It is easy to laugh at the days to come and have no fear of what the future holds when you know you have been a good steward of the resources God has entrusted you with. This woman made good use

of the resources she had (her gifts and talents) and she invested well to multiply what she was given.

3. She is not impulsive

Proverbs 31:16 ‘She considers a field and buys it; out of her earning she plants a vineyard.’

This is probably the hardest for me to learn. Being rather impatient by nature and often impulsive as a result, I have had to hold myself back many times. Before making an investment, or a big decision, the Proverbs 31 woman spends time thinking through it carefully. I’d imagine that she would do the numbers, research the options, conduct her due diligence, and then, she jumps right in. What’s more important to note is that once she has done her “consideration”, she then makes it happen.

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be selected for an entrepreneurial program in Stanford University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. I learnt that ideas meant little because there were a million ideas, and for every idea you have, there’s probably a better one out there. What mattered more was what you did with the idea.

It’s in the execution. It’s in the sowing that you are able to reap a harvest. So, the next time God gives you an idea, what will you do with it? Take it from the Proverbs 31 woman, consider’ the idea, then go ahead and bring it to life, and keep working at it until it becomes profitable. Proverbs 31:18 ‘She sees that her trading is profitable’ (NIV)

Written By Jo Foo

Jo is on team at Kingdomcity in Kuala Lumpur. She is mother to Zachary and Jaden, and wife to Ben.