In Titus 2:4-5, Paul writes what the older Christian women should teach the younger women:
"...they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."
It is my strong conviction that two of the primary aspects of the biblical role of women are to be a helper to their husbands and a trainer of their children. In times of weakness, however, it is easy to be shaken by the messages our society sends us: You're smart, you're capable: why don't you go for this degree or chase after that career? Those things will give you value. Devoting your energy to your family and home is not enough. When we begin to second-guess our biblical desires and convictions, we need to be refreshed by God's perspective. One of the places I recently went for such a perspective was Anna and Sofia Botkin's book So Much More. They write,
Women were designed by God to be the happiest, most fulfilled, most appreciated, and most honored as homemakers. No other career can come close to the importance of homemaking. Most other careers actually undermine God's order by cheating women of their first and best calling and taking civilization in the wrong direction. This is because homemakers are so central to guiding and shaping civil society.In the classic portrayal of a biblical woman in Proverbs 31, we see that though her work is very centered around her home, her works may very well "bring her praise at the city gate." (Pr 31:31) How encouraging it is to hear biblical principles affirmed and encouraged, as in the passage above, and for women who embrace God's Word to be honored! May we not be so bombarded by the world that we forget that living out God's calling is the most noble pursuit we could choose. That, by staying within God's boundaries, we are influential in a distinctively feminine way.
I am willing to pour all of my energy into my God-given calling because... it is enough.
