What Proverbs 31 Teaches Us About Work
For those trying to balance family life, long hours, and community needs, it’s easy to question: “Does my work really matter to God?” Proverbs 31:10-31 gives us a resounding “yes!”
Often known as a tribute to a hard-working wife and mother, this famous passage is more than a checklist for biblical womanhood. It paints a picture of what godly work looks like in everyday life—and it shows us that ordinary, faithful labor has eternal value.
A Picture of Hard Work and Godly Wisdom
The woman described in Proverbs 31 is not sitting idle. She rises before the sun, managing a household, running a business, buying real estate, caring for the poor, and ensuring her family has what they need (vv. 13–27). She’s a leader, a provider, and a servant all in one. Her hands are busy, but they’re also generous (v. 20). She doesn't just work for her own household; she blesses others, too.
Al Wolters calls this passage a “heroic hymn.” It uses strong, even battle-like language (“gain” can be translated as “plunder” [v. 11] and “dresses herself” can be translated as “girds up her loins” [v. 17]) to show that this woman is valiant, doing meaningful, culture-shaping work.1
And while the passage does highlight a woman, it’s not just about women. Many scholars agree that this woman represents wisdom itself—the same wisdom that Proverbs encourages us all to seek. Her life shows us what wisdom looks like when it is lived out.2
Her Secret? The Fear of the Lord
The engine behind her work isn’t ambition, praise, or perfectionism—it’s her relationship with God. The final verse of the poem says it plainly: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v. 30). Her “fear of the Lord” communicates living in deep respect, trust, and obedience to God.
Her work matters because God’s grace is behind it. Every bit of energy she pours into her business, her family, and her community flows from her reverence for the Lord. Her faith is not separated from her work—it fuels it.
The Proverbs 31 woman is not praised because she does it all flawlessly—she’s praised because she fears the Lord and works faithfully out of that fear.
This is what some theologians describe as “grace transforming nature.” God’s grace (seen in her fear of the Lord) does not float above her work life; it saturates it. Her work is not divorced from her faith. Instead, God’s grace works through her daily tasks to transform the world around her.3
A Theology of Work for the Rest of Us
This passage gives us a strong theology of work. It tells us:
Work was never meant to be a curse—it was part of God’s good design from the beginning (see Genesis 1–2). Wisdom herself is engaged in meaningful work!
Every kind of honest work, from planting fields to managing a home to working retail, matters to God. He uses our labor to impact the world.
Our work can serve others and build up our communities, not just earn a paycheck.
This is not about hustling for perfection. The Proverbs 31 woman is not praised because she does it all flawlessly—she’s praised because she fears the Lord and works faithfully out of that fear. That is something we all can aim for, whether we’re punching a timecard, changing diapers, managing finances, or serving tables.
The One Behind the Work
Proverbs 31 is not just a poem—it is a reminder that everyday work is a spiritual endeavor. The woman in this passage is not just busy; she’s on mission. And through her example, we learn that our jobs—big or small, paid or unpaid—can reflect God’s character when they are done in faith.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your labor matters, Proverbs 31 answers with a clear voice: Yes. Your work can glorify God, serve others, and leave a lasting legacy—not because of how flashy it is, but because of the One you’re working for.
