"She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands"~ Prov. 31:13

There's a woman in the bible mentioned in only a couple of verses in the book of Acts, but what we read about her tells us so much of the type of woman she was.

"One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God" ~ Acts 16:14

Lydia was from the city of Thyatira, a small city known for its commerce in Asia Minor. Also know for it's abundant crops and the manufacture of purple dye. She is described as a dealer of purple cloth. Purple cloth was very expensive and it was a sign of nobility or royalty. It is my guess that Lydia was more than likely, a very wealthy businesswoman.

As we read in Acts, we learn that Lydia was a worshiper of God and a woman whose heart God opened, meaning that she believed and responded by trusting Christ as her Savior when Paul shared the message of the gospel.

She is also described as a willing servant as she invited Paul and his friends to stay at her home. As soon as God opened her heart, she became a willing servant who helped the missionaries. Later we read that Paul returned to Lydia’s home where he met with believers. She opened up her home for fellowship and prayer meetings. Lydia dedicated the rest of her life to being a "faithful servant" She was also a key person in the establishment and development of the church in Philippi. She was probably someone that heard the words that many of us long to hear;
“Well done good and faithful servant. Come and share My happiness” ~ Matthew 25:21

Lydia is a great example of the virtuous woman as she was a godly woman who provided for her family by selling purple fabric, a business which she enjoyed. The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 finds great satisfaction in her work because she is wise and knows that it is a gift from God. She enjoys her work and does not see it as a boring chore. Believe it or not, we can find pleasure and satisfaction in our work.

"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God."~Ecclesiastes 3:12-13



In today's computerized and electronic society we no longer have the need to work with our hands. Most of the women I know don't find pleasure in making clothes for their family and they would much rather go to the mall. We all know how expensive that could be. The virtuous woman finds ways to save money by learning how to sew, crochet, knit and mend clothing. She uses her resources in the most cost-effective way she can.



When I was a young girl, I remember watching one of my aunts knit and crochet for countless hours. I was able to learn from her and now I find pleasure in knitting scarves as Christmas gifts or finding new, fun and exciting projects to work on through out the year. Just imagine how much money you could save by "making" Christmas gifts this year instead of buying them. In today's economy, everyone is feeling the pinch. Many people are being a lot more frugal these days and gift buying is creating more stress each year. Making a gift is not only a good way to save money but it is also a great way to give something unique and personalized.

Whether you are a business owner like Lydia, work full time, part-time or are stay at home mom, it is important to love what you do. Have you found a skill that you are good at and enjoy?

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings" ~ Prov. 22:29