Working at Home for the Glory of God Part 2

                                           
                                           Working at Home for the Glory of God Part 2

“That at the first, at the beginning of everyone that ever was, there is this braving of the pain and no one tells you that this is the way it will always be now– because love is always worth the pain. Just ask any mother — love is a willingness to suffer.

Love is patient —  and patience is always this willingness to suffer.

Love is patient and patience is this willingness to suffer —  to put aside plans for a person, to lay aside self to serve, to set aside agendas to step up to an altar.

This is the work of a mother — this strange and peculiar joy in letting go of self to make the joy of another large”   Ann Voskamp

Scripture supports women being workers at home. Proverbs 31 is a great example of a hard working woman who manages her home well.


Prov 31:27-28
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

Titus 2:3-6

 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

1 Tim 5:9-16

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,   10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan.

I think that if a woman did all these things, she would be quite busy and not lazy at all. About these verses Mathew Henry says,

“Not but there are occasions, and will be, of going abroad; but a gadding temper for merriment and company sake, to the neglect of domestic affairs, or from uneasiness at being in her place, is the opposite evil intended, which is commonly accompanied with, or draws after it, other evils.

1 Tim 5:13-14, “They learn to be idle, wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” Their business is to guide the house, and they should give no occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully. Good, generally, in opposition to all vice; and specially, in her place, kind, helpful, and charitable; as Dorcas, full of good works and alms deeds. It may also have, as some think, a more particular sense; one of a meek and yet cheerful spirit and temper, not sullen nor bitter; not taunting not fretting and galling any; not of a troublesome or jarring disposition, uneasy in herself and to those about her; but of a good nature and pleasing conversation, and likewise helpful by her advice and pains: thus building her house, and doing her husband good, and not evil, all her days. Thus in their personal character sober, discreet, chaste, keepers at home, and good: "

I have been married to my best friend for 27 years today and a stay at home mother for almost 26 years now. I have no regrets. It is the hardest and the best job I have ever had. Working at home to train and teach my children and to pour out the love of God upon them has been a great blessing to me even though I am a sinner and sadly fail many times.  It is the hardest job with the greatest responsibility. It has been more fulfilling and brought me more joy and laughter than any career outside the home could ever do and also more tears and hardship. Yet the rewards are far reaching and will endure for all eternity. I am forever grateful to be the mother of all nine of my children. What a wonderful privilege to be at home with them all.  I love them so much and would do it all over again even if I never got praised or thanked, though I have been many times. I don’t deserve the praise my children and my husband give me. They are a blessing and a gift and a reward for sure. God has used my children to teach me so much and to humble me and change me into His image. I have so much to learn. I am thankful that God does not give up on me, my husband and my children. He continues to perfect us and change us into His image.

Phil 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Our lives truly are a vapor. They are like the lilies in the field, here today and gone tomorrow. So don’t waste your life pursuing a career for yourself. Wake up America! Take responsibility for your own children. Moms, the most important career and ministry you can have is to love, care for, teach and train your own children. No one loves them like you do. Don’t give them to the world, especially to wolves, many of whom are dressed as lambs. Marriages and families are broken down and children are left unprotected while mothers pursue careers outside the home. Don’t waste your life living for yourself. Live for the glory of God by treasuring Christ as you serve your husband and children. Glorify God in your home for the joy of those who live there that they too may treasure Christ and live passionately for Him.