Our modern culture makes it hard to read Titus 2:5 without a skewed view of the words, “workers at home”.  The older women are to train the younger to love their husbands and children, to be self controlled, pure, workers at home…

Often christian women will get into a lively debate over whether God wants us to be a stay-at-home mom or if it is ok to work out side the home.  I believe the answer to that question is “yes”. And I think we miss the point entirely.

 

Read the following scripture that can give us a better understanding of what Paul is saying when he says workers at home

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1 Timothy 5: 9-16

“A widow who is put on the list for support should be a woman who is at least 60 years old and was faithful to her husband.  She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done.  Has she brought up her children well?  Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly?  Has she helped those who are in trouble?  Has she always been ready to do good?

The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.  Then they will be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.  And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.  So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes.  Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.  For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.

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First of all this passage gives us a good definition of what “work” God honors.  Being faithful to one’s husband, the raising of children in the Lord, showing kindness to strangers, serving other believers, helping those in trouble and being ready always to do good are listed here.  The desire is to care for one’s own home.  This work gives a woman a good reputation. This woman is then respected by all who know her.

 

The passage also defines the opposite of working at home.  And it is not working outside the home.  The opposite is being idle and lazy.  And even more devious is the act of meddling and gossiping.  The opposite of working at home is meddling into other people’s business where we don’t belong.  We all know the women who thrive on drama and seem to like sowing discord between people.  I had a preacher’s wife once tell me that:

“If you are busy rowing the boat you don’t have time to rock the boat” 

1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12

“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.  Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.”

 

This encouragement comes after Paul urges his followers to live in a  way that pleases the Lord, in all holiness and self control.

 

God’s instructions to work at home is not a restriction as the feminist movement has labeled it.  It is the very way we can witness to the lost world as we love our families and work for their good.

 

Colossians 3:23-24

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were doing it for the Lord rather than people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

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I love the story of Joseph.  He was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery.  His life continually had bad circumstances. Yet, Joseph never lost his trust in the Lord and as a result he prospered in whatever he did.  I believe he did all things as if he was working for the Lord even when those things were very difficult.

Eventually, God positioned him as the head of Potiphar’s household.  Potiphar was the captain of Pharaoh’s guard.  Potiphar trusted Joseph to run his household and so Joseph did with excellence and integrity.  Nothing in that household belonged to Joseph but he was instructed to care for the household as if he owned it all.

I often thought that my role as the “keeper of my home” was like that of Joseph’s role in Egypt.

God has entrusted me with my husband, my children, and my material blessings of a household.  It is my honor to cherish these things and care for them tenderly for the good of my family but also as an example to the world of what love is all about.

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The work of the Proverbs 31 woman

1. She brings her husband good all the days of her life

2. She works hard to provide for her family

3. She is energetic and strong and a hard worker

4. Her hands are busy

5. She extends her hands to the needy

6. She is wise and speaks carefully

7. She is careful to watch everything in her household and is not lazy

8. Her husband trusts her and her children bless her

9. She fears the Lord above all

This work that Paul is encouraging the older women to teach about is an eternal work.  The mundane, sometimes thankless work in the moment has rich, far reaching consequences.  Believe me, from my perspective now as an empty nester, there is no greater work in the world.

The work of a homebuilder is of first importance. Remember our theme verse:

Proverbs 14:1

“A wise woman builds her house but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

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STUDY QUESTIONS

 

1. How do you view the command to be workers at home?

2. Have you seen it as a restriction or a privilege?

3. How have you mentally processed the importance of being the keeper of your home?

4. What are some things you do to remind yourself of the  importance of this role?

5. How do you see your role in the home as a witness to unbelievers?