Keepers at Home

Final Thoughts

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WHOM WILL WE SERVE?

            Joshua tells the children of Israel that he and his house "will serve the Lord," and he challenges them to do the same.  We have that same challenge given to us today.  Whom will we serve?  The Bible states very clearly that we will either serve God or "mammon."  We have the choice in who we serve in this life.  Ecclesiastes 12:13 says:  "Fear God and keep his command-

ments:  for this is the whole duty of man."  Have you considered the challenge in that sentence?  Our whole duty while we walk on this earth is to obey God and to fear Him.  That's it.  According to the scriptures, there is nothing else that is more important.  To live the life of a Christian means that we search on a daily basis for the things we can do to serve our Father in Heaven.  We must pray to God, work for God, and be obedient to the will of God all the days of our life.  To Him there is nothing else that ranks in importance.

            When studying the issue of keepers at home, it is important to ask why Christians are allowing women to work outside of the home.  The answer seems to fall on the shoulders of "making a living."  So many Christians have said that it is impossible to make a living unless both husband and wife are working full-time jobs.  Oh, ye of little faith!  Are not all things possible with God?  Doesn't the Bible teach that to us?  What is more likely in these situations is that both husband and wife are working to fulfill the wants and desires of a particular lifestyle that they are accustomed to or want to have in their lives.  The Bible gives that another name:  "filthy lucre."  If that is why you work, then you are serving mammon and not God.  The Bible states that very clearly.  If we seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, He will see to our needs.  Doesn't the Bible say that He will?

            The seeking of earthly wealth and gain is pure vanity in the eyes of God.  He isn't concerned with that for His children.  He wants us to work diligently for spiritual attributes.  He wants us to serve Him with an undivided heart.  We cannot do this if we are seeking the luxuries of this life to give ourselves comfort, status, and rank.  Again, God could care less about such things.  God knows where our heart is; and where our heart is, there will be our treasure.  He knows if it's Him or something in the world.  By directly disobeying His word many Christians show God just exactly where their heart lies.  To have a Christian woman work outside of the home in a full-time job is going against the words written to Titus by Paul who was inspired by the Holy Spirit.  How can Christians openly rebel against the plain teaching in the Bible?  How can this be supported by those in the church?  The answer is ugly and frightening.  If we go against God's word, we are under the direct influence of the world--and we know who the prince of the world is, don't we?

            For those of us who live in the United States, we are blessed to live in the richest country in the world.  But, for some Christians, this is not good enough.  They must strive and toil for more earthly possessions in an attempt to give themselves self-worth, gain, and status.  And, having the woman work outside of the home to provide these things is in direct violation with the scriptures, which most Christians proclaim and defend as truth.  If this is the case, why are so many turning their backs on it?

            God's idea of true womanhood was defined by Him in the beginning with Adam and Eve.  He has made the decisions for the matter of womanhood and her role in this life.  Again, we can either accept it or reject it and be judged according to our decision.  Many scriptures in the Bible address what true womanhood is in the sight of God and not one verse mentions holding down a career job to gain fulfillment and enjoyment.  What God wants from Christian women is to have them marry, bear children, guide the house, assist the weak and needy, and other specific activities that are to please Him.  Woman is never commanded, ordered, proclaimed, heralded, or presented as the primary provider for a household.  In fact, the term "keepers at home" suggests something else entirely.

            My sincere desire through the course of this study is to simply proclaim what the word of God teaches for us and our lives.  We have a great responsibility as Christians to uphold, carry, and teach the word of God on a regular basis.  How can we if we don't even follow it in our own lives?  That is hypocrisy.  Ours is not to question or try to find an alternate route, but to "strive for the mastery" as the Bible directs.  When we repent and become baptized, our life is not ours any more, but God's.  His will is to reign in our lives.  We must demonstrate it in thought, word, and deed.  If we openly choose to neglect one of God's commandments, how can we say that we are truly His?  Making mistakes and errors is one thing, but sinning willfully for the sake of money-making is another thing altogether.  How can we justify such belief, attitude, and behavior in the sight of God?

            I realize, of course, that many Christians will scoff and rebuke this study to defend and justify their decision to have the woman work full-time outside of the home.  It is unfortunate to note that the world's influence is creeping every so steadily into the ranks of Christ's true Church.  Although society and feminists organizations teach otherwise, we must stand fast to God's will concerning the woman being a keeper at home.  We must teach it, live it, and hold it up as the standard for all Christian women.  Careers and employment are not to bring satisfaction and fulfillment for the Christian woman in her life.  Being a wife, a mother, and a worker for the Lord are what should bring joy to the Christian female.  Why?  Because that is what God wants, directs, and commands.  Let us pray, study, and discuss these things to know the truth so we can follow the way and path of righteousness that God has lined out for us.

            At the beginning that this study was not to be about what man thinks, but what God's word says.  Unfortunately, I have heard many speakers from the pulpit state that "their opinion" is that women can work a full-time job as long as they take care of the home.  Since when does God care about our opinion?  God expects obedience from His children--that's the definition of serving God in a nutshell.  We either serve God's will or we don't.  There is absolutely no in-between when dealing with God's word.  It is frightening to see so many of our number try desperately to find the gray in God's word.  Too many folks choose a lifestyle they want to live and then search the scriptures to find shreds of support.  This is sad, deadly, and sinful.  We teach and follow God's word, or we don't follow it at all.

            Jeremiah 23 talks about teachers who give "their opinion" concerning God's word.  Jeremiah 23: 16 states:  "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you:  they make you vain:  they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord."  What will happen to these type of teachers if they don't repent from such activity?  We know the answer.  God will punish accordingly.  Jeremiah 23: 31-32 states:  "Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.  Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them:  therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord."  The Bible is plain in this matter--there are those that are distorting and lying concerning God's word.  Unless these teachers change, they will have to answer to the almighty God for their actions.

            Our efforts here are to encourage a return to following God's word instead of our own will for our lives.  It's sad to have to use the word "return" when discussing God's children and His word.  We should never have left His word to follow our own lusts and wants.  But, that is what is happening in the church.  The keepers at home issue is just one of many that needs to be addressed.  If we are truly concerned with following God's word, we will do it without question, without debate, and without a fight.  This is our prayer and hope for the members of the church. The encouragement is to study this issue out and talk about it with brothers and sisters in Christ. Find the truth and follow it.  For in the end, that is what God expects of us as His children.


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