Kelly Crawford

I wondered, on reading the following comment from a reader, how many of us STILL have an incorrect view of the Proverbs 31 woman….much like the incorrect view we have of a homemaker.

I think it she plays in important role in helping us understand our role today (which is why I have a “ruby rebel” button on my sidebar!), for TWO reasons:

1. In the OT times, women truly were oppressed. This passage probably would have made people of the day gasp in horror at the thought of a wife earning income and being so exalted. It was very much against the cultural norm for women.

2. Secondly, many people use the passage to justify women “working outside the home”. Proverbs 31 reveals how a woman can have successful avenues of earning income, using her gifts and talents, dispelling the culture’s view of the “poor oppressed homemaker”, and still “keep” her home in every sense of the word.

Following is the reader’s comment and my reply:

“…On another note, it is a great disservice to tell women that Titus 2 forbids working outside of the home. Catherine R., the commenter, could be industrious as the Proverbs 31 woman was, who certainly went *out of her house* in order to make money (considered a field and bought it—real estate, planted a vineyard—wine business, farming, etc, sold her cloths in the market—sales and shopkeeping), and we are told she is someone worth emulating—that she is a wife worth far more than rubies.”

My reply:

“Interestingly, in your warnings to “not misinterpret Scripture”, you’ve done just that in the case of the Prov. 31 woman. I have used her many times before as the perfect example of the Keeper at Home.She beautifully demonstrates how a keeper is not a woman “chained to the confines of a house”, but understands that ruling her household is priority and gladly manages its affairs. She does not “work outside the home” in the sense that modern women do.

You said she sells garments in the marketplace…no she doesn’t. Read it again. She sells garments to the MERCHANTS. She is a wholesaler. THEY go to the marketplace. (Much like I do when I sell my homemade skin products to someone else for retail.) Buying real estate, planting a vineyard, those are all venues compatible with her duties at home. She doesn’t have to leave her house unattended for hours at a time. Her productivity flows outward from her home, not against it.

And most importantly, regarding her “home business”, is that she is still under her husband’s authority…she doesn’t subscribe to another man’s (or company’s) purpose, time frame or schedule. This is one of the keys in understanding why it so damaging for a wife to hold a career.”

The Proverbs 31 woman continues, even today, to dispel the culture’s understanding of the keeper at home! She is far too smart, elegant, and industrious for the feminists’ agenda!

I think several of you are right…here’s my personal view:

I do believe in literal interpretation of Scripture, and when Titus 2 says to “teach the women to be keepers at home (among other things) so that the WORD OF GOD IS NOT BLASPHEMED” we had better sit up and take notice.

Also notice that the “blaspheming of the Word of God”, I think, refers to what we are teaching. I think we should be teaching young women to be keepers at home…and it is a HARD lesson for some ears to hear.

By the same token, as Terry pointed out, there are times and places (maybe a woman came to embrace this teaching in the middle of a financial crisis) where it is not possible, AT THE MOMENT for her to come home.

If that is the case, though, it should be viewed as a negative situation that should be as temporary as possible.

It’s like I posted about a few days ago–it’s what we’re thinking, and therefore teaching that is the crux of this matter. If we are bringing up girls saying to them, “honey you just do whatever your heart desires”, then we are giving them false teaching. We should be rejoicing with them that the Lord has already given them a WEALTH of things to do from the home…a whole world to which they can minister, generations to raise up like an army. AND, we should be revealing to them the tremendous opportunities and obligations that lie within a keeper’s domain. That’s a BIG job.

But if we find a sister “caught”, we should be gentle with her, giving her truth, and holding her hand at the same time.

Be prepared though…if you say, in any terms, that you feel women should be keepers at home, you WILL be criticized for being judgmental, haughty, and condemning, no matter how gently you say it. But we must keep pointing back to the Scriptures–God said it, not me…no place in history have people ever won popularity contests by speaking the truth of God’s Word. So decide in advance what it is you want!

What really determines the way we think, the way we live, the choices we make? I say it is the foundation of what we believe–this makes up our worldview.

Christianity is the basis of my world view. But it is a belief system under vicious attack–even inside the church.

Only “attack” seems exaggerated because the most effective attacks are subtle ones, and thus the most deceptive.

I submit that for a Christian, one of the most fundamental points of our belief is how we view God’s sovereignty. I don’t know if many people really give much thought to just how seriously they believe in God’s supreme ruling over the universe.

While reading Daniel today, Daniel makes this PROFOUND statement to Belshazzar, the king and son of the former reigning Nebuchadnezzar, revealing the true sovereignty of God.

He said:

“…the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor…all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him…but when his heart was lifted up in pride, his glory was taken from him…his heart was made like the beasts…till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

But you have not humbled your heart…and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.”

In light of the upcoming election, I have to say pondering this verse gives me peace.

We sure do wring our hands over a lot, don’t we? Newsflash: God doesn’t wring His hands.

And contrasting these characters in Daniel is Daniel himself…resolute….iron-willed. Willing to face torturous death rather than compromise his faith and convictions.

We need men and women of resolute character–the iron-willed kind that cares more about glorifying the Lord and obeying Him than anything.

You know when Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego wouldn’t bow to the idol among the thousands gathered there? How many of us would have bowed…”Just tyin‘ my shoe, Lord, just tyin‘ my shoe!”

It’s one thing to agree that things run more smoothly when “we all work as a team”, it’s quite another to get everyone else as enthusiastic about the game plan 😉

The earlier you can encourage your kids to catch a vision for team work, obviously, the better. In fact, when they’re little, working is a privilege!

Yesterday I escorted my 3-year old boy to his room, shared by his older brother. Boys are interesting…you have to approach boy motivation from a “go in an tackle it” angle. Sometimes they are prone to distraction.

I walked him into his room where it is usually obvious to the female species what is wrong with the floor (like…you can’t see it?) So I began to point and excitedly give orders like we were in a race…”see those shoes–put them in your closet! Shirt–in the clothes hamper! Look at you work! Wow, Brooks, you are really great at cleaning your room!”

His face was beaming. It’s all in your excitement. Of course you’d be exhausted if you tried to keep that up, but you get my point! Tell them, show them, praise them.

Simple reminding is of vital importance in teaching children. If I say it once I say it ten times a day–“We are a team.” Positive brain-washing is a good thing 😉

Be sure to keep praising your older ones too…remind them of your appreciation, and the value they add to the family.

Feeling “a part” is one of the most basic human needs…and God has created a naturally beautiful opportunity for that within the context of the family!