A Biblical Woman is Diligent

by Danielle Dillenscheider

“She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.” -Proverbs 31:13

Proverbs 31 praises the wise woman for many character traits, but one that cannot be overlooked is her diligence. Proverbs 31:13 says that this wise woman ‘seeks’ out what are, in all honesty, fairly mundane tasks of livelihood in her context. Her seeking of ‘wool and flax’ could be compared to doing the dishes or math homework—yet she works with ‘willing hands.’

At the root of diligence is the heart. Seriously—the root of this word is “deligere,” which is the Latin word “to love, to respect, to care for.” Diligence does not mean lifeless attention to detail. At its core, diligence involves the heart and the will at work.

It is always easier to be diligent in those tasks we naturally love to do. Perhaps you love your pet, or your personal space, or your athletic gear. You likely take good care of those things. Maybe you work a job that pays well or has convenient hours. You are probably thankful for that job and work diligently at it. What happens, though, when that pet is difficult, or the job requires you to perform a tedious task for little money?

Often, we attend this work with dread and complaints. Though it may seem impossible to carry diligence into a task that we do not want to do, that is what this passage in Proverbs calls us to do.

We cannot fake diligence, though. If we try to power through on our own, we will run out of energy and desire. How can we work diligently in all circumstances then? As one who weaves God’s wisdom into the fabric of her daily life, the wise woman of Proverbs 31 seems to know the truth of what Paul later explains in Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” It seems strange to say that you are serving the Lord, even in the repetitive chores you dread. Is He the one who is going to let you go out if your room is clean, or grade your homework? Not necessarily. But He has put you in this place, to do this work, for a reason. This work is a blessing, a gift from God. ‘Working heartily as for the Lord’ calls for a change in perspective; it is a mentality that must be set daily and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. He guides you to work with willing hands in all situations so that others might look and see Jesus reflected in you.

But why does it matter? There are a couple of reasons. When we work diligently, whether the task engages our natural passions or is dreadfully boring, our attitude can influence others. It can show them the character of Jesus: his humility, his love, and his joy. Also, doing any act with great care lashes against the apathy and slothfulness that the enemy tries to trap us in. Do you find yourself struggling with this in certain areas of your life? When this is the case, there is a need to confront sin. Do not let laziness slide by unaddressed; ask God to change your heart. It is easy to sink into numbing tendencies and find idleness more pleasant than anything else. Don’t cling to your own comfort—cling to the only true goodness: Jesus.

Journaling Page for Diligence

How did Jesus demonstrate diligence? Read and consider John 13:1-17.

In what areas of my life am I diligent in my work?

What should my mindset be when I work?

In what areas of my life am I lazy or apathetic? Who is holding me accountable in these areas?

Other thoughts and scriptures about diligence: