A Generous Spirit

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." ~ Prov. 31:20

This quality of the Virtuous Woman is manifested by her unselfishness and desire to live for others. She cares for not only the people in her home, but also her neighbors and relatives. She shows an interest in her community and uplifts everyone with her kindness and encouragement. She gives others a sense of emotional and spiritual security.
 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Phil. 2:3-4

Her skills have earned her a very profitable income which she is willing to share with the poor and needy because she knows her income is a blessing from God.

The Virtuous Woman is a giver and interested in charity. She takes the time to care for the poor and needy in her life. She cares for the less fortunate, makes sure all of their needs are met and is interested in volunteering in many worthy causes.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,”  without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ~ James 2:15-16

A woman I always admired was Princess Diana. She was one of the most popular royal figures of Britain's history and known for her generosity.

Princess Diana of Wales was a humanitarian who used her position, power and charismatic personality to give financial and emotional support to the victims of poverty, disease and drug abuse. She was also known as mini Mother Teresa of Britain.

Princess Diana helped people in several ways. Throughout her life she was very active in supporting and financing many charitable organizations. She helped underprivileged children, and drug abuse and AIDS victims. She also championed the AIDS awareness campaign. In 1987, she shocked the whole world by publicly shaking hand with an AIDS victim. By doing so, she showed to the world that AIDS victims need compassion and kindness. It helped change the world’s opinion regarding AIDS. She also used to undertake surprise visits to hospitals and mental asylums. She possessed a rare ability to make people happy by just holding their hands and hugging them.

Princess Diana played significant role in international campaign against use of anti-personnel landmine. Thus, making the world a safer place to live in. In fact, she had influenced the signing of Ottawa Treaty, which put an international ban on stockpiling, production and use of anti-personnel landmine. The international anti-landmine banning campaign for which Diana had worked for also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

Princess Diana was associated with many fund raising charitable organization. Many charitable organizations raised substantial amounts of money by just one appearance of the royal Princess. She was the Vice President of the British Red Cross Society and served as a member of the International Red Cross advisory board. She was also the patron of the British Deaf Association.


"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

Virtuous & Vigorous

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." Prov. 31:17 (NIV)


In the New King James version this verse reads as; "She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms" Prov. 31:17 (NKJ)


The virtuous woman vigorously goes about her daily duties because many depend on her. She is healthy and strong, exercises regularly, has a good diet and gets enough rest.

Vigorous is defined as, Strong, energetic, and active in mind or body; robust, with force. Synonyms are "active" and "healthy".




There are many women in the bible who are great examples of vigor and vitality. One that stands out is Ruth. She refused to abandon the care of her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. After the death of Father in-law, brother in-law and her husband, Ruth followed her mother in-law, Naomi to Bethlehem. Of course they were very poor. However there was hope, it was the time of barley harvest. There was a law in Israel that said the poor people could walk behind the harvesters, who were cutting the barley with simple tools, and pick up any of the stalks that the cutters had missed and it was theirs with no price to pay. Ruth knew about this and said to Naomi that she would go and find a field being harvested and glean the barley. Ruth was not afraid of hard work but she was courageous in another way as she would have to face a field full of harvester's eyeing her up and down and maybe some harassment too. But God was looking after her.

Ruth worked among the gleaners. This was a rough, rowdy group of mostly men who did backbreaking labor in the hopes of scraping up enough to feed their family. Through her many ordeals, Ruth remained a quiet, hard-working, dignified young woman who trusted in God.

The virtuous woman's inner strength and trust in God is what gives her, vitality, vigor and outer strength. She is not slothful or lazy but a great example of diligence. The virtuous woman seeks her strength from the Lord in the morning through prayer and at the end of a long day of hard work she seeks the Lord for rest.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~Matt. 11:28-30

Whether you're a stay at home mom, or work outside of the home, here are some of the benefits of working hard:

* Hard work brings a profit "In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty" ~ Prov.14:23

* Work done in a slack manner is as good as a piece of work which is later destroyed. Both are valueless ~ "He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer" ~Prov.18:9

* Diligent work leads to control of one's situation "The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor." ~Prov.12:24

* Work can be very rewarding "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him" ~Prov. 12:14


Accept work as God's divine design for you. "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it" ~Genesis 2:15

"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat" ~2 Thes.3:10

Wise & Frugal

"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard". ~ Proverbs 31:16

This verse shows us that the virtuous woman spends her money wisely and makes it work for her. She uses her earnings to provide for her family. What she chooses to do with the money is something that keeps producing over time, for example, the vineyard that keeps on producing grapes for wine, she sells the wine and plants more vines, buys more land, or does something else with those funds. The virtuous woman excels at what she does and is a financial asset to her home.

While reading this verse, I could not help but to think of Marylou, my mother in law. My husband and I just returned from a mini vacation to Arizona to celebrate Marylou's 74th birthday. Spending time with my mother in law is always a pleasant experience and very inspiring too.

While having coffee with Marylou one morning, I noticed the pile of newspapers on her dining table. Marylou started to sort through the pile while sharing about her most recent trip to the grocery store where she saved more than $70 by using coupons. I thought to myself "Yeah right, who has time to go through tons of newspaper and cut out all of those coupons?" I work full time, there is No Way I could ever find the time to do this." I'm usually the one who let's out a big sigh when I see the person in front of me take out a big wad of coupons to pay for groceries. Marylou added that not only did she save money, but also received $4.00 back! OK, Now she got my attention. Marylou bought over $100 worth of groceries, saved over $70 and also got money back! Coupon Clipping is not the most exciting hobby but if it saves that much money and I can get cash back, why not give it a try.



Everywhere you look in Marylou's home, it is evident that she spends wisely and knows how to use her skills to make profit. Her home is filled with items she has made herself including; sofa covers, lamp shades, aprons and table cloths. She makes floral arrangements out of buttons to decorate her home or to give away as gifts. Her backyard is filled with fruits and vegetables she has planted herself. She bakes for church fundraisers and would much rather whip up a meal in seconds than go out to a restaurant.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" Ecclesiastes 9:10




My husband has shared with me that his mother used to buy antique furniture at yard sales or estate sales, she would take the furniture home to refinish it and reupholster it herself and sell it for profit. It was always an ongoing joke in his home to be careful where you sit because your chair might be gone when you return.

"Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." ~ Proverbs 24:3-4

In Matthew 25 the Lord tells the parable of the Talents(coins).It is a story of a man who is preparing to leave on a journey and entrusts his possessions to his servants. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. The first two servants quickly set to work with their master’s money. The third servant did not invest his master’s money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. When the master returned, the first two eagerly met their master, apparently delighted in the opportunity to multiply their master’s money. Both were commended as “good and faithful servants”; both were rewarded with increased responsibilities in their master’s service; both were invited to share in their master’s joy.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"~ Matthew 25:21