So often, in today's society, the role of a mother is belittled and scorned. Ladies of today are encouraged to "make the most of their time" and do whatever they yearn after, over and above their calling as a mother. It is implied that they are a lesser woman if they choose to stay at home with their children while they are young, rather than pursuing a career in the world.
We are not even talking about non-Christians - these are fellow Christian ladies, who have been captured by the "feminist bug", that reared it's ugly head in the mid-2oth century. Our mothers and grandmothers were thrown into a man's world, as the men departed to fight in the first and second World Wars. Ladies began to take on the roles that the men previously occupied. However, the war ended....although, sadly, the desire of the woman to keep on doing what was the role of men, did not. "We have a right", or "I should be able to choose" began the watch-word of women. Suddenly, the role which they so ably held and were CREATED FOR, was abandoned, in order to be "equal with men".
I think it is important for us, as Christian ladies, to continually consider "what does the Bible teach us about these things?". We are given teaching in the Bible relating to our role. In fact, there is probably more SPECIFIC detail given as to a woman's role compared to the SPECIFIC role of men. WHY? Because we have an important job to do!
First of all, we need to remember that woman was created FOR MAN. It was "not good that man should be alone", so God created woman for him.
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Then, they were given the mandate to "be fruitful, and multiply" Genesis 1:28. So, the pattern was given to have children. We were created to bear the children, not the men. We were created to nourish our children, not men. (let me just add that I know some ladies are unable to feed their own babies, for numerous reasons, but it was still God's design that we could....I digress!...) So, then it follows that it is our role to raise our children. Yes?!
Then in Proverbs 31 we are given a beautiful description of how we are able to fulfill our God-given role as a wife and mother. There is so much to learn, and it is something that I hope to look into more here. It has been twisted, sadly, by some, to show how we can leave our children and still be employed outside of the home, but that is not the main teaching of the passage. I am not suggesting there are never times when a woman with children is employed outside of the home. Sometimes it is needful - but rather, the priority of our Biblical role is what I seek to emphasise.
In the New Testament, we then find the description which I have adopted in my Blog title.
Tit 2:4&5 "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
As far as I can find in the scriptures, these may be two of the most important verses that we can find regarding our duty as a woman. Please remember, these are not simply the words of Paul...these are words INSPIRED OF GOD, as a pattern for all Christain ladies. There is no "exception clause" given. We are instructed to follow God's Word, and this is exactly that - GOD'S Word. It may not be easy. The sinful heart, steeped in the same decieved desires as Eve, longs after a life to please self alone. Not the life of sacrifice and and selflessness that is required in order to fulfill this Bilical mandate. But, dear sister, can there be anything better for us, than to live a life in obedience to God? We will find complete satisfaction, if we strive, with every part of our being, to follow after what God has designed, and not that which the world tries to lure us to.
So, I pray that this site will be an encouragement. I will post links and articles that will be a help as you try and be the best that you can be for the Lord.
Every Blessing,
Caroline, thanks for coming to my blog. I didn't know that about the clotted cream. I deleted the comment that the English call whipped heavy cream clotted cream! Now, I'll have to go look up clotted cream on Wikipedia!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for stopping by the blog! I'm wondering if you have a link to that article you talked about from Ruth's dh? Could you send it my way?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
Amy