Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of strength and hard work? Setting the Scene with Proverbs 31:17 “She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms.” The noble woman isn’t merely fit—she is equipped, prepared, and ready to serve her household and her Lord. Scripture echoes this theme of God-given strength paired with diligent labor from Genesis to Revelation. Strength Sourced in the Lord • Isaiah 40:29-31 – “He gives power to the faint…those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.” • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” • 1 Chronicles 28:20 – “Be strong and courageous, and do the work…for the LORD God…is with you.” Hard Work: God’s Standing Expectation • Genesis 2:15 – “The LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” • Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men.” • 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat…settle down and earn the food they eat.” Proverbs on Diligence and Reward • Proverbs 10:4 – “Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” • Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” • Proverbs 14:23 – “There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” • Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.” • Proverbs 22:29 – “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings.” • Proverbs 6:6-8 – The ant’s example: self-motivated, organized, providing in season. Working with All Your Might • Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” • Nehemiah 4:6 – “The people had a mind to work” and the wall went up. • 2 Chronicles 31:21 – Hezekiah “did it wholeheartedly and prospered.” Labor in the New Testament Church • 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Always excel in the work of the Lord…your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” • Acts 20:34-35 – Paul’s own hands supplied his needs; “by this kind of hard work we must help the weak.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – “Make it your ambition…to work with your hands…so that you will not be dependent on anyone.” Putting It Together Across the canon, God celebrates strength that is exercised in faithful, focused labor. Whether tending Eden, rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, sewing garments for a household, or furthering the gospel, believers are called to gird up, lean on divine power, and work wholeheartedly. In doing so we mirror the Proverbs 31 woman—and more importantly, honor the Lord who equips and rewards every act of diligent service. |
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