Keepers at Work?

By Delwyn McAlister

This ministry is based on the old fashioned term, 'A woman's place is in the home', and the Scripture that says we are to be keepers at home. (Titus chapter 2).

I personally believe and strongly encourage my sisters in Christ to live in accordance to God's ideal regardless of the trends of the society in which we live. However, we must also take into consideration the fact that the Scriptures also command women to obey and submit to their own husbands. If a husband wants his wife to work, what then? I believe the answer lies in Proverbs 31. This woman had a small home-based cottage industry. Although she was involved in a home business, it is obvious that she had her priorities in order. Read Proverbs 31v10 onwards and notice the order of the verses. The first verse was about her character, then about her marriage, then her household commitments and then finally, her business. There are many women running small businesses from home, some for pleasure and others out of necessity.

In her book 'The Other Side of the Garden', Virginia Fugate wrote: 'Proverbs 31 is a declaration that there is no higher calling for a woman than that of a wife and mother. The Proverbs 31 woman also had the freedom to develop business interests. These interests did not interfere with her main roles as helpmate to her husband, mother of their children, or keeper of their home. All her activities were interrelated with her home, and they were extensions of her role as a biblical woman.

The Proverbs 31 woman's motivations and accomplishments reflect the revealed will of God for womanhood. She is the forerunner of Biblical womanhood and her example exhorts generations of believing women to follow her lead.' There is a danger that needs to be addressed. Sometimes a home based industry can take over and steal a woman's heart away from where it ought to be. One mother found herself enjoying her fast-growing home- based business that she had to get sitters in to help mind the children! I do not believe that is being a 'keeper at home' in the truest sense. The editor would like to remind our readers of the blessing it is to be a Biblical keeper at home. Keepers At Home is the name of the ministry and as long this magazine is being published, I will continue encouraging women to have not just their physical bodies at home, but their hearts also.

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Mrs Brent (Delwyn) McAlister
Wife, Mother, Homemaker,
Editor: KEEPERS AT HOME;
Director ABOVE RUBIES ministry Australia;
Author (in that order!)
P O Box 5128, Gladstone, Queensland 4680 Australia

 

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