Scripture
“She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard… She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle… She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple… She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant… She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
PROVERBS 31:13-16, 18-19, 22, 24, 27
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
COLOSSIANS 3:23-24
Quotes/Color
“I’d watch my mom get up every day and never complain… I basically try to wake up early and outwork my mom every day. She’s doing it, so why can’t I? What reason do I have to complain, when I just do football and school, and she’s working to provide for me and my siblings? So, I’m like, ‘I can outwork my mom, at least.”
Gerry Bohanan
“Remember this your lifetime through –
Tomorrow there will be more to do…
And failure waits for all who stay
With some success made yesterday…
Tomorrow you must try once more
And even harder than before.”
John Wooden
“Joy, not to mention success, comes from doing a task rather than just trying to get it done.”
Dr. Scott Moore
Context
Fall of 2021 marked the first time in several years that the starting quarterback position for the Baylor Bears, the team of our Lord, was up for grabs. 4-year starter Charlie Brewer had moved on and 3 contenders were left to compete for his coveted QB1 position. And Head Coach Dave Aranda was the man who would decide who that would be.
Being Head Coach and a bit of a nerd on the X’s and O’s of football, Aranda was always the first one in the office and last one out. That is, first one in and last one out until new QB Gerry Bohanan came into the picture.
Weeks into summer workouts, as Aranda came in at 6am each morning, he would pour his first cup of coffee for the day and get started with watching film… Getting there early before even the sun would rise day after day… Only to be beaten out by Gerry Bohanan, already ready for his second cup of coffee for the day.
Gerry worked so hard and showed up so early that Aranda was actually concerned that he was
“I guess I’m just trying to outwork my mom.”
Isn’t that good?
And from that the motto, #OutworkYourMom was born. Adopted by the entire offensive unit once Gerry won the starting QB position for the 2021 football season.
Application
I love the idea of a bunch of corn-fed, big ‘ole boys rallying around the idea that the key to winning more football games is working harder than their mommas. Isn’t that fun? More than fun… It worked. Baylor went 12-2 that year and won the Sugar Bowl over the Ole Miss Rebels.
Outwork Your Mom
Now the phrase “Outwork Your Mom” is a great way to get your offense humming… But that is not all. It is also biblical. The description above Proverbs 31:10 in my bible is titled: “Description of a Worthy Woman” – yours probably says something similar. These are famous verses that most any church-goer knows.
“Be a Proverbs 31 woman”, right ladies? How many times have you heard that?
But read through this passage… Really take some time with it. Proverbs 31:10-31, 21 verses in total.
Want to know something that sticks out about the “Proverbs 31 Woman”?
- She gathers materials to be made into linen (vs. 13)
- Her hands are constantly working… with delight (vs. 13)
- She brings in food from afar (vs. 14)
- She wakes up before anyone else to get ahead on the day (vs. 15)
- She’s working real estate deals (vs. 16)
- She takes her earnings from her real estate deals and reinvests the capital in a vineyard (vs. 16)
- She stays up late, keeping busy (vs. 18)
- While staying up late… She made clothes from scratch for her household (vs. 19, 22)
- But she also goes above and beyond, makes more clothes and decides to sell them on the open market (vs. 24)
- She “does not eat the bread of idleness” (vs. 27)
This woman is busy. She is tireless. Early mornings! Late nights! Farming! Gathering! Selling Sunsets real estate deals (But no drama! She doesn’t have time for that!!) Family dealings! Always on her feet! Go, go, go!
8 of the 21 verses are about her work ethic, as a conservative mark.
Wow!
Who knew the Proverbs 31 woman worked so hard? That is the “description of a worthy woman!” What an example.
God gave us moms and godly women like the ones described in Proverbs 31 as models. They are supportive, loving and caring because God is… But they are also relentlessly diligent. They work hard for their cubs. And stop at nothing for their family and for God.
If you’re anything like me or Gerry Bohanan, you’ve got a big responsibility to fill if you ever want to #OutworkYourMom… My awesome mom, similar to Gerry’s, worked 3 jobs to get me through high school and college. And did far more to set me up for success and show me love and affection.
But doing so brings honor to God and is something we are called to do. The “Proverbs 31 Woman” works tirelessly. And you should too.
Outwork your mom today.
Something to Chew On:
- Are you coasting by? Or do you view your work as an opportunity to serve and honor the Lord as it says in Colossians 3:23?
GreatValue Proverb:
Outwork Your Mom