Seeking Wool, Flax and Working Willingly - Proverbs 31:13

In the book of Proverbs Lemuel asked, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life”, and in chapter thirty one and verse thirteen of Proverbs King Lemuel said, “she seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly” where we read,

She seeks wool, and flax,

and works willingly with her hands.

The verse begins, “She seeks wool, and flax, ...” Lemuel began with the words, “she seeks wool” or “she, the virtuous woman, looks out and searches for shaggy wool with care”, “and flax” which means “and linen used for clothing”. Lemuel said the “virtuous woman” searches for shaggy wool and linen with careful aid and attention. 

The verse goes on to say, “... and works willingly with her hands.” Lemuel continued with the words, “and works willingly” or “and labors, accomplishes, produces and attends with pleasure and delight” “with her hands” which means “by the use of her, the virtuous woman's, physical hands”. Lemuel said the “virtuous woman” uses her physical hands delightfully to labor and produce.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Lemuel another wonderful trait of the “virtuous woman”. Not only does she carefully search for “wool and linen” for clothing for her family, but she also labors in a delightful manner. God wants us to take pleasure and care in what we do for our families, and when we are given the opportunity, we are to enjoy providing for them. God loves us and cares for us. He provided our eternal salvation through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us by His Holy Spirit to carefully search and labor with pleasure for those within our care. 

Next time Lemuel says, “she is like the merchants' ship”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".