#WorkHard

“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms”

Proverbs 31:17 [KJV]

Hollyhocks

I recently read a news article about workplace trends that have gained popularity on social media. One fad mentioned in the article was called ‘quiet quitting’. This term refers to staying employed but “mentally checking out of your job”, “being content with mediocrity” and “doing the bare minimum” amount of work possible to keep you from being fired. According to people interviewed in the article, this involves deliberately taking longer to complete tasks, taking sick leave during high workload times even though they weren’t ill, and refusing any task not specifically stated in their job description.

Ouch! I wouldn't want to be that person’s employer or colleague! #QuietQuitting #MentalHealth sounds catchy, but you could just as well badge it as #WorkplaceLaziness or #BadAttitude or #Sin. It simply isn’t Biblical. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. How about the hashtag #WorkHard?

We all need balance in life between rest and work—God provided both, and we see the balance modelled in Jesus’ earthly life (Mark 6:31). Because the Lord made us, He knows our physical capacity, including when to push harder and when to work less.

But today I want to focus on the ‘work’ side of the balance. I’ve recently been studying the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:10-31, the Bible’s most famous passage on godly womanhood. And that woman knew how to work hard. The word ‘virtuous’ is translated from the Hebrew chayil and refers to ‘strength, efficiency, valour’. Yet her diligence wasn’t self-effort. Because she was a “woman that feareth the LORD” (Proverbs 31:30), she drew on God’s resources. Psalm 18:32 explains, “It is God that girdeth me with strength (chayil)”.

How desperately we need God’s strength! We won’t always feel like working hard—particularly at mundane tasks. Take cooking, for example. I enjoy cooking, but my heart sinks after every big meal-prep session. How did I use so many bowls, saucepans and knives? How could one tablespoon of oil splatter across the whole cooktop? Sometimes I stand for a moment, gripping the kitchen bench and repeat, “I can do all things (yes, even the dishes) through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Let’s consider several aspects of the Proverbs 31 woman’s diligence.

Firstly, she isn’t afraid of hard work. Verse 13 tell us that “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands”, while v17 adds that “She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” When her workload demands it, she sacrifices her own comfort to wake up early (“She riseth also while it is yet night” v15a) or stay up late (“her candle goeth not out by night” v18b) to finish the job. I guarantee she didn’t always feel like doing this. Yet she consistently “looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (v27). In our modern culture, which emphasises me-centredness and convenience, Proverbs 31 is an important reminder that God wants us to work diligently. One of God’s first instructions to mankind was to tend the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15), and because our God is unchanging, the call to be faithful workers remains today. So “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Secondly, we see diligence in her leadership. Instead of simply organising others to do the work, or having a ‘that’s on them’ attitude, she was both a co-worker and a carer of other workers. Verse 15 says, “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens” (likely ‘maidservants’). In other words, she did what she could to help others fulfil their duties. This principle has many applications. Workplace managers shouldn’t simply delegate a task; they need to ensure the worker has the resources they need to fulfil that task. Though it takes time and effort, mothers need to patiently teach their children the skills they need to complete duties. Co-labourers in ministry shouldn’t be left waiting because you didn’t finish your part of the task on time. And, rather than constantly taking from church leaders, we should be willing to work hard to bless and support those who serve us, with 1 Timothy 5:17-18 saying these are worthy of double-honour.

Thirdly, the virtuous woman took the initiative to find additional work. Verse 16 states, “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” Rather than being satisfied with doing the bare minimum (#QuietQuitting) or spending the profits on herself (#TreatYourself), she invested in a new project that, wait for it, required more hard work. Her example encourages us to avoid spiritual or practical stagnation. We should not stop labouring just because we have achieved a self-appointed goal or met basic obligations. And, instead of coasting along in self-effort in familiar ministries, we should actively seek new opportunities to serve God and others.

Finally, the virtuous woman’s diligence was purposeful. She did not keep herself busy just to have something to do; she did each task to meet specific needs. For instance, the clothing she made was both attractive and practical; “She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet” (v21). Similarly, her decision to plant a vineyard was after first carefully considering the matter (v16). She did not waste energy on profitless things that did not align with her priorities. In an age where endless projects and causes call for our attention, this is an important reminder to keep seeking the Lord’s will and staying true to the priorities He has given us. If things do not align with God’s will for us, they are unprofitable. We do not want to be those rebuked in Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.” Instead, like Christ, may we be able to honestly say that we are about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

Let’s not fear hard work, regardless of what our culture says. When we fear the Lord, we can draw from His divine resources, and through His enabling be like the virtuous woman who “girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms”.