Workers at Home
Today, more than ever, women are spending a significant amount of time working outside the home. Due to our current culture’s feminist ideology, homemaking is seldom looked upon with much respect. Homemakers are often thought of as the ones who weren’t bright enough to get a job or ones without any sense of ambition. If we aren’t careful we’ll start to take on that same ideology as well. Homemaking is, in fact, a high and noble calling because it is a calling from God. God has given us the job to be workers at home (Titus 2:5) and He has uniquely fitted us for that job. Fulfillment is not found by rising the corporate ladder. It is found as we humbly serve our families and manage our homes for the glory of God. 
For wives and mothers, our homes should be our principal place of work and working at home should be a constant priority in our lives. Is this to say that a woman should never work outside the home? Certainly not. Scripture gives many examples of godly women who contributed to their family financially. However, working outside the home should never be to the neglect of our family. There are some occasions where extenuating circumstances necessitate that the wife provide the primary income for the family, such as a single mother or a family where the husband is physically unable to work. So if those are the rare occasions, why do we find so many young wives and mothers in the workplace? Is it perhaps due to a desire to meet with social expectations? Or perhaps it is an unwillingness to make the necessary sacrifices to live on a single income? When we are faced with the decision to pursue some venture outside the home, it is important to evaluate our motives for doing so. I think you will find the following questions helpful:
- What are my reasons for pursuing this opportunity? Are they selfish or God-honoring?
- Will pursuing this venture glorify God and honor the gospel?
- Is this an undertaking that will help my husband?
- Will it enhance and enrich the lives of my family?
- Does this endeavor hinder my role as caretaker of my home?
(Taken from Feminine Appeal, by Carolyn Mahaney, page 105)
It is not only important to understand our role as workers at home but also to take great delight and joy in filling that role. Let’s pursue our role as managers of our homes with creativity and enthusiasm, always seeking to learn and improve. We all have unique abilities and talents and should put them to use in our homes. One last important note about homemaking – we must remember that our homemaking is for the purpose of helping our husbands. Our goal should not be to be the best homemaker in the church. Just because Susie has a flourishing garden does not mean that you need to do the same. Perhaps your husband would rather have cookies in the jar than flowers on the table. Constantly evaluate what you’re doing and make sure that it is with the motive to help your husband. Regularly ask him what you can do to help him or if there is anything that you can do better or differently to manage the home to his liking.
May God give us grace and strength each day to manage our homes with delight!
Treasures to Share
Emilies Barnes has written numerous books on the subject of homemaking. She is well-known for her organizational skills and has a wealth of practical tips to help manage your home more effectively. Here are some you might find helpful:
101 Ways to Clean out the Clutter
Emilie’s Creative Home Organizer
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Interesting post… =)
Thanks!