A Look at Proverbs 31 For Modern Freelancing Moms

Fifteen years ago I sat in a bible study listening to the wisest man I have ever known when a boy burst into the class wielding a bible. His finger was firmly pressed in the book, pointing to a passage that I had only glanced at before that day. He didn’t notice that the class was already in session or that we were already on a topic – the death penalty. He walked up to the teacher with his bible and began to poke at the passage he was reading. He started “I want a woman JUST LIKE THIS! How can I find a wife like this? How can I find “A Wife of Noble Character?”

The wise teacher turned to him and asked if he thought that a Proverbs 31 woman was the only kind of woman he would accept and proudly the boy proclaimed that he wanted “A woman that would raise the kids, but also help feed and clothe the family.”

I sat in disbelief wondering if this kid actually expected his wife to sew all of his and their childrens cloths. It was 1997, after all. I began to read the passage and have been rather obsessed with it ever since. I bought a related domain name several years ago and while I have never done anything with it, I did recently rename a business to reflect what I feel I have become. A thirty-one wife and mom.

What follows is my modern spin on Proverbs 31.

Proverbs 31

New International Version (NIV)

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Isn’t this the way every marriage should be? Isn’t the goal to have a relationship where you’re a team? Yes! Okay, moving on…

¹³ She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She shops online and looks for the best deal, after all, we’re in a recession. The UPS man will come tomorrow.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.

She gets up while it is still night because she knows she won’t be able to get a shower after the kids are up. She is working to get a healthy breakfast on the table. Her kids don’t eat processed cereals or breakfast bars! She walks to the barn and picks their home grown organic eggs for her kids to eat for breakfast. Her clients are all in different time zones, so she’ll have urgent emails to address first thing because end of business day is coming for some of her clients.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

She thinks of an idea and quickly buys a domain name. She builds a business that creates a good income. She gains many new clients and word spreads of her skills. She is intelligent. She uses the money she makes to be able to raise her kids and still have a great job where she contributes to the family income without dropping her kids off at daycare.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

She uses her creativity, her skills and her knowledge to create a business. She dedicates a portion of her income to a charity she has supported for years. She will use the money on her Paypal debit card to purchase coats and shoes for her kids. She’s wears Ann Taylor because she can.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

They guys at her husbands work don’t believe that she actually makes an income AND raises the kids, until the husband shows the guys at work one of the bios of his wife on a clients website where she is named an advisory board member.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She uses her accounting, marketing, business, sewing or other skills to create a product or service that she can sell using only her smart phone or laptop. Most of the businesses in town use her service because she is fair and honest and LOCAL.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

She knows that she will wake up to new clients in the morning. She knows she’ll have work for years to come. She isn’t afraid to tell others how she does it, but she is also humble about her ability to work from home. She’s going to be on Skype with a client in Austrailia at 9pm EST tonight because his day is just about to start. She works when her clients needs her, but plays when her kids need her.

See, Proverbs 31 really IS about the modern freelancer, right?