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Love that Works

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Proverbs 31:10-18 NLT

I need a love that works hard!

Love works hard at earning trust

Her husband can trust her. Proverbs 31:11 NLT

Love works through conflict

Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. Proverbs 17:1 NLT

She brings him good, not harm. Proverbs 31:12 NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not… rude. It does not demand its own way… It keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 NLT

Love works hard at finding opportunity

Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! Proverbs 14:23 NLT

She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns… She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. Proverbs 31:22, 24

Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. Proverbs 13:11 NLT

Love works hard at organizing life

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. Proverbs 31:15 NLT

She carefully watches everything in her household… Proverbs 31:27 NLT

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 NLT

Love works hard to make enough money

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. Proverbs 13:4 NLT

I need enough to support my family’s needs

She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. Proverbs 31:21 NLT

I need enough to have some left over to help others

She extends a helping hand to the poor… Proverbs 31:20 NLT

I need enough to build a savings

She laughs without fear of the future… Proverbs 31:25 NLT

I need enough to bless God

Honor the LORD with your wealth. Proverbs 3:9 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a space where you can be quiet before God, removing any distractions. Take a few deep breaths and pause in the stillness. Consider the current relationships in your life. As you do, focus specifically on the way you relate to others; where is your “work” paying off? Are there any relationships where you are working too hard, and possibly stifling relational growth? Consider any areas where you need to work at releasing another person’s growth to God and ask him to show you any relationships in your life where this might be the case. Now, ask God to show you whom you need to work harder to engage with. Bring those people before God, asking him to open your eyes to see them the way he sees them. As you consider how you steward your relationships, ask God to do an honest assessment of your stewardship of your personal resources as well. If this is an area of strength, who in your life can you help guide toward better stewardship of their resources (gifts, talents, finances)? If God reveals this as a growth area to you, ask him for the courage to take a step this week. Conclude your time by thanking God for his endless work in your life, and ask him to fill you with a deeper sense of his love this week.

Discussion Questions

  1. What stood out to you in your personal Bible reading time this week? What have you learned about God or yourself so far?
  2. Read Proverbs 31:10. This proverb starts with “who can find a capable wife?” Generally speaking, what has made (or what makes) love challenging for you?
  3. Read Proverbs 31:11. Trust is an integral part of any loving relationship or friendship. What life events or patterns from your past are currently affecting your ability to trust those around you?
  4. What are some of the practical things you do to overcome the past and make it possible for you to trust those you love?
  5. Read Proverbs 17:1. When it comes to the relational conflicts in your life, what are some of your healthy habits and what are some of your unhealthy habits?
  6. Read Proverbs 31:12-18. Loving someone well is hard work. What are some of the things you do that are hard work for you and what is one of the hard things you are not currently doing that you need to step into or step up for?