At the end of a long day, after eight or ten or twelve hours of hard work, do you ever lay in bed and wonder, Did I do anything today that really matters? If so, you’re not alone. As women of faith who work, we can sometimes wonder if what we’re doing matters in the kingdom of God. We can be tempted to think that certain work is holier—like starting a ministry or working at a church. Or maybe we love what we do but struggle to see how God is moving in our workplaces because our line of work doesn’t feel spiritual.
There’s good news for every woman: God works through you and in you no matter where you spend your nine-to-five. And beyond that, he fills your work with a purpose that stretches beyond your lifetime. Need proof? Just ask the women in the Bible.
The story of God and his family includes women who worked. We can learn through their stories how God empowers women and gives all our work meaning.
Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to settle disputes. Judges 4:4–5 CSB
Deborah served as a judge during one of the most tumultuous times in Israel’s history. Israel had just secured the Promised Land, but instead of remaining faithful to God, they worshipped other gods, so God allowed their enemies to oppress them. When they cried out to him, he’d raise up a judge to save them.
Judges in those days operated as mediators of disputes (as we read in these verses), led armies into battle (which Deborah did—see Judges 4:9–10), and pointed people to God (see Judges 5). They operated as agents of God’s salvation, bringing about justice and flourishing for Israel. Deborah shows us how our work can promote God’s justice and kingdom values in the world. And her appointment as judge reveals how God places us in certain positions to accomplish his purposes.
Learn more about Deborah in Warrior Women: Deborah.
So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley. She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her. Ruth 2:17–18 CSB
In Ruth, we find a woman who did everything she could to provide for her family. As a foreigner, she stood out, and as a widow, she had few options. So, she worked in a field, gleaning leftover grain as others harvested. With humility, bravery, and dependence on God, she gathered food to care for her mother-in-law.
Ruth teaches us that even difficult, seemingly menial jobs carry purpose and serve as a means for us to exercise faith. Ruth’s faith-filled actions in her work led to short-term provision for her family and long-term provision for Israel—King David and Jesus came from her family line—all of which wouldn’t have been possible if she hadn’t exercised her faith through work. Her faithfulness impacted generations—and the impact of our faithfulness does the same in ways we may never see this side of eternity.
Explore Ruth’s faithfulness in The Book of Ruth.
So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke with her. 2 Kings 22:14 CSB
Huldah was a prophetess, which means she spoke the words of God to the people of God. Prophets and prophetesses stood up to rulers and kingdoms, declaring the truth to an often hostile people. In Huldah’s story, the high priest and king had discovered the book of the law, and they needed answers about what they read, fearing judgment from God. Huldah spoke boldly, giving difficult but vital news to the king (2 Kings 22:15–20).
Huldah shows us we can speak the truth, even to those in authority, and we can weather difficult interpersonal dynamics with God’s wisdom. When we face conflict at work, have to deliver bad news to a coworker, or need to stand up to a boss, we can rely on the same God who empowered Huldah to speak truth to the king.
To learn more about how to navigate difficult conversations, see The Miracle Moment.
She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.
She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.
Proverbs 31:16, 18, 24 CSB
The woman in Proverbs 31 works harder than anyone. She buys real estate, farms, balances books, makes clothing—and more. She’s a renaissance woman, an entrepreneur. Her work spans years and varies over time. She’s diligent, wise, and shrewd. She knows how to handle finances with finesse, using her faith as a guide.
As we read her description, we see how our work impacts communities, from our families to our neighbors. Our work can provide jobs for others and resources for the needy. And our faith informs how we navigate our finances, both at work and at home.
For more on involving faith in our finances, watch Faith as Currency in Our Finances.
Afterward he [Jesus] was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions. Luke 8:1–3 CSB
Several women contributed to Jesus’s ability to do ministry. They invested in his kingdom work, making sure he and his disciples had what they needed as they traveled. Jesus could preach, heal, and cast out demons because they gave from what they had. Though we don’t know their specific professions, we know they earned enough to be generous with what they had.
These women found meaning in their work through giving. Similarly, we can be generous with what we earn, the resources available to us, and our professional expertise. When we tithe, attend a charity event, or hold a networking lunch, we can express our generosity.
Discover other women in Jesus’s ministry in What the Women Saw.
After this, he [Paul] left Athens and went to Corinth, where he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, and since they were of the same occupation, tentmakers by trade, he stayed with them and worked. Acts 18:1–3 CSB
Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, were Paul’s co-workers both in ministry and vocation. As fellow tentmakers, they formed a friendship with Paul on the foundation of their shared faith and occupation. We see this husband-and-wife duo mentioned throughout Paul’s letters as dear friends and partners in his ministry.
Priscilla’s camaraderie with Paul points us to the fellowship we can find with our coworkers and others in our field. God works in and through these relationships to form us, influence others, and enrich our lives.
Learn more about building friendships in Find Your People.
A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Acts 16:14–15 CSB
Lydia sold purple cloth—a luxury in the Roman Empire. She was a businesswoman who built her trade on a beautiful product. When she heard the gospel, she shared it with her entire household. Because she was affluent, she could host Paul and many Christians in her home (Acts 16:15, 40).
Lydia’s work reveals that we, too, can create beauty in our work. We can see any success as a platform for sharing the gospel and glorifying God. The fruit of our success, big or small, can broaden our ability to serve others.
Discover the church Lydia was a part of in The Book of Philippians.
Women who work both in and out of the home are in the story of God’s family. Through their faithful lives, we see God’s power on display and find his heart for our careers. He infuses our work with purpose—from bringing justice to serving others to giving generously. These strong, courageous women point us to the God who supplies us with all the strength we need to work each day. No matter your vocation or role, your work matters—to God, to your community, and to the kingdom.
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