Proverbs 31 as a professional woman - Part 4
Embodying and manifesting godly wisdom in the workplace
Last week we received a fresh revelation as to how Proverbs 31 as a professional woman thrives in her third success principle, which is based on showing love to other people – in fulfilment of Mark 12:31, which says “love your neighbour as yourself." She understands that Mark 12:31 is not an invitation to over-love others but to express a healthy love in a manner that glorifies God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
A reading of Proverbs 31:10-31 introduces you to a woman who interacts lovingly in every scenario, and last week we unpacked how she manages to show love when she’s faced with co-workers or other people who are jealous, destructive, provoke her, envy or try to backstab her. In another scenario, we also looked at how she responds when she has tried her best to be loving and yet the scenario doesn’t change.
If you want to learn about how she applies wisdom in the above instances, then I urge you to Google ‘Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman, Part 3’.
This week we’ll be looking at how she responds to having a difficult boss or supervisor.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 in the TPT translation has a great instruction to all employees that we are to “honour and respect our employers” as a sign of God’s truth and to not discredit God’s name in the workplace through our actions. If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus and have a boss who is also a believer, 1 Timothy 6:2 (TPT) has a further instruction that reads, “especially honour and respect employers who are believers, and don’t despise them, but serve them even more, for they are fellow believers. They should be at peace with them as beloved members of God’s family. Be faithful to teach them these things as their sacred obligation.”
But what if your boss is not a believer?
When you think of Joseph working for Potiphar (Genesis 39) or as the second in command to Pharaoh (Genesis 41), you receive the full revelation of the power of honouring your superiors and seeing the hand of God at work in your favour.
But some of you might be thinking: What if my boss or supervisor is an evil person?
Joshua 1:9 will remind you to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with you.
The book of Daniel will also remind you that being prayerful, remaining in the will of God, pursuing righteousness and standing for God’s truth will make you an overcomer because the battle has already been won (Revelations 12:11). Daniel will remind you to apply Godly wisdom, honour, and respect regardless of the attitude of your superior.
Why, you might ask? Because you know that it’s not the person, but what’s controlling the person that is fighting you (Ephesians 6:10-18). Wisdom will remind you that you should surrender the battle to God (2 Chronicles 20) and Psalm 46:9-11 will remind you to be still and know that Jehovah Sabaoth is with you.
In 1 Samuel 18, David displayed the power of showing love, honour, and respect regardless of King Saul’s evil desires against him. He knew that his power was not in confronting King Saul but in remaining in God’s will. In the end, the Lord used every trap against David to make him more distinguished, excellent, famous, and favoured.
It takes wisdom to remain humble, loving and remain still while the Lord works out a tough working environment for you.
DISCLAIMER: 'Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman' under the theme 'Embodying and Manifesting Godly Wisdom, Success Principles and Effortless Femininity in the Workplace' is not posited on trying to read the professional woman into Proverbs 31 because this will produce an absurd result. However, I have opted to take a principles-based approach that widens the scope to be applicable to any professional woman, regardless of her age or status.
*To gain context about who I am and why I’m writing this column titled 'Spirit, Soul and Body', I encourage you to Google my previous articles titled 'A New Season', 'Seeing God’s Glory Through My Tears' as well as 'Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman” (parts 1, 2 and 3), all published by Namibian Sun newspaper. I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
A reading of Proverbs 31:10-31 introduces you to a woman who interacts lovingly in every scenario, and last week we unpacked how she manages to show love when she’s faced with co-workers or other people who are jealous, destructive, provoke her, envy or try to backstab her. In another scenario, we also looked at how she responds when she has tried her best to be loving and yet the scenario doesn’t change.
If you want to learn about how she applies wisdom in the above instances, then I urge you to Google ‘Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman, Part 3’.
This week we’ll be looking at how she responds to having a difficult boss or supervisor.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 in the TPT translation has a great instruction to all employees that we are to “honour and respect our employers” as a sign of God’s truth and to not discredit God’s name in the workplace through our actions. If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus and have a boss who is also a believer, 1 Timothy 6:2 (TPT) has a further instruction that reads, “especially honour and respect employers who are believers, and don’t despise them, but serve them even more, for they are fellow believers. They should be at peace with them as beloved members of God’s family. Be faithful to teach them these things as their sacred obligation.”
But what if your boss is not a believer?
When you think of Joseph working for Potiphar (Genesis 39) or as the second in command to Pharaoh (Genesis 41), you receive the full revelation of the power of honouring your superiors and seeing the hand of God at work in your favour.
But some of you might be thinking: What if my boss or supervisor is an evil person?
Joshua 1:9 will remind you to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with you.
The book of Daniel will also remind you that being prayerful, remaining in the will of God, pursuing righteousness and standing for God’s truth will make you an overcomer because the battle has already been won (Revelations 12:11). Daniel will remind you to apply Godly wisdom, honour, and respect regardless of the attitude of your superior.
Why, you might ask? Because you know that it’s not the person, but what’s controlling the person that is fighting you (Ephesians 6:10-18). Wisdom will remind you that you should surrender the battle to God (2 Chronicles 20) and Psalm 46:9-11 will remind you to be still and know that Jehovah Sabaoth is with you.
In 1 Samuel 18, David displayed the power of showing love, honour, and respect regardless of King Saul’s evil desires against him. He knew that his power was not in confronting King Saul but in remaining in God’s will. In the end, the Lord used every trap against David to make him more distinguished, excellent, famous, and favoured.
It takes wisdom to remain humble, loving and remain still while the Lord works out a tough working environment for you.
DISCLAIMER: 'Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman' under the theme 'Embodying and Manifesting Godly Wisdom, Success Principles and Effortless Femininity in the Workplace' is not posited on trying to read the professional woman into Proverbs 31 because this will produce an absurd result. However, I have opted to take a principles-based approach that widens the scope to be applicable to any professional woman, regardless of her age or status.
*To gain context about who I am and why I’m writing this column titled 'Spirit, Soul and Body', I encourage you to Google my previous articles titled 'A New Season', 'Seeing God’s Glory Through My Tears' as well as 'Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman” (parts 1, 2 and 3), all published by Namibian Sun newspaper. I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
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