Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #7 - Willing to Work

"She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands." - Proverbs 31:13

Webster's Dictionary - Willing: inclined or favorably disposed in mind; prompt to act or respond; done by choice or without reluctance. 

Strong's Concordance - Willingly: pleasure, desire, delight, purpose

Being willing to work does not mean working just because it is our duty or job, but because it is our pleasure, desire, and purpose.

1. Genesis 2:15 - man was created to work, to keep the garden
2. Ruth 2 - she asked to work, to gather food for Naomi, and worked all day long
3. Psalm 128:1-2 - those who fear God will labor with their hands and enjoy the fruit of it
4. Proverbs 10:16 - righteous labor tends to life
5. Proverb 14:23 - labor produces more profit than talk
6. Proverbs 21:25 - refusing to work will cause your desires to destroy you
7. Ephesians 4:28 - don't steal; rather, work for yourself and so that you may bless others
8. Colossians 3:17 - whatever we do, we should do it with a thankful heart, and for the Lord
9. Colossians 3:22-24 - we should work with a good attitude, to please the Lord
10. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - work with your own hands
11. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 - Paul continued to work day and night, even on his missionary journeys, so as not to be a burden to the people he was with
12. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - those who don't work should not eat

Why is it our pleasure to work? Because God created humanity with the purpose of working, of tending the land. To labor with our hands is a way to fear (reverence) God, and those who do so will enjoy the fruits of their labor. 

Whatever work we do, we should do it with a thankful heart and a good attitude, because in the end we are serving the Lord and not just man. 

We ought to work so that we are not dependent on others and so that we may be able to help others. Even Paul, a great and renowned missionary, worked on his journeys to set an example and not be a burden to the people he was there to help. 

Ruth is another excellent example; she asked to be able to work and provide food for Naomi and herself, and worked in the fields from morning till night. 

Refusing to work will simply cause our desires to destroy us; hard work produces more profit than empty talk. Righteous labor leads to a good and happy life.