Proverbs 31 Challenge: Investing

She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

Proverbs 31:19

Distaff? Spindle? I'm sure there are ladies out there who are familiar with both terms, but if you're like me, you might need to look them up. Proverbs 31:13 tells us the virtuous woman seeks wool and flax, materials that can be used to make threads and fabrics. Today's verse is the second part to that.

A distaff is a staff with a fork at one end used in hand-spinning thread. A chunk of wool or flax can be put on the fork so that fibers can be draw out and spun using a hand-held tapered rod called a spindle. In verse 19, we see the virtuous woman take on the work she had collected material for.

As I'm sure you can imagine, spinning thread by hand is hard work that requires patience, diligence, skill, and time. The Proverbs 31 woman doesn't shy away from the work, though.

I think the busyness of life today keeps many people from trying, or even wanting, to do things that require as much effort and practice as spinning thread. We want things done quickly and easily so we can move on to the next item on our to-do list. Taking the time to gain a skill is just too time-consuming.

While working smart and saving time are valuable, some things are better when we invest time in them. Think about what areas of your life this is true for. Maybe instead of microwave meals you could start cooking or instead of entertaining yourself with television shows you could start reading more. Instead of relying solely on others' teaching you could also study the Bible for yourself. Investing a little more will reap huge gains.