Growing as God Intended

Growing as God Intended

She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard. — Proverbs 31:16 NCV

In today’s verse, taken from the Proverbs 31 description of a wife of noble character, the poet speaks on God’s behalf and praises the woman’s business savvy and work ethic. She herself has inspected a field and purchased it: she didn’t buy it impulsively, nor expect a man to do it for her. She studied the soil conditions and developed a strategy for its best use. She planted the vineyard rather than wait for someone to do it for her. We can only assume the vineyard was successful, because this woman puts much thought and care into her endeavors.

Along the way, though, some people have either dismissed as outdated or conveniently forgotten this woman in Proverbs 31 who admirably uses her brain and gets her hands dirty in order to accomplish her goals. Somewhere along the way, our Christian culture started to regard women who have careers and women don’t mind doing yard work, changing a tire, or unclogging a toilet as less feminine or as not fulfilling some biblical definition of womanhood. Proverbs 31:16 should clarify for all of us that women are to use their minds, be free to make sound business decisions, have no fear about rolling up their sleeves, and make no apologies for their accomplishments.

You may be a whiz at retirement investments but a complete disaster in the kitchen. You may be able to install a new electrical outlet, but you too often add bleach instead of fabric softener to your laundry. Despite the burned biscuits and ruined shirts, never let anyone suggest you are less of a woman because you do not fit some misguided stereotype. The Bible praises a woman who is strong and unafraid to use her God-given talents — whatever those may be. So don’t hesitate to kill the bug, bring home the check that pays the mortgage, and buy that new ratchet set you’ve been eyeing.

Father, thank You for wiring me with a unique combination of gifts and attributes. And rather than letting anyone else define womanhood or determine my value, may I rest in the truth that You created me and You love me.

Excerpted with permission from Devotions from the Garden by Miriam Drennan, copyright Thomas Nelson.

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Your Turn

Sisters, today, remember that God made you with the unique and wonderful gifts that He gave you on purpose… and He expects you to make hay with what you’ve got! Grow! Friends, let’s encourage one another especially when we don’t fit the “mold” to walk in the gifts Jesus put in us with confidence and boldness! Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily