GUIDE THE HOUSE
by Kevin
Rutherford
In the context of a discussion
concerning which widows the church is responsible to help, Paul spoke of God’s
purpose for younger widows. He said, “I
will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house,
give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully (1 Timothy 5:14).” Paul
made it clear that God expects younger women to “guide the house.” God has given the woman a role in the
home. That role is to manage the
household affairs. She is to spend her
time in rearing the children and organizing the functions of the home.
Paul thought God’s role for women
in the home was important enough to repeat.
Titus was sent to Crete to help the church to
become organized, and to take care of some problems in the church. One of the subjects Paul wanted Titus to
teach the Christians in Crete was
the role of women in the home. Paul said
the older women should be teaching the younger women “to be sober, to love
their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at
home, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be
not blasphemed (Titus 2:4, 5).” Notice Paul said the young women must be
“keepers at home.” The primary work of mothers is the home. The primary function of women in the home is
to raise the children and manage the home.
Some translations say she must be a “homemaker.” While remaining in submission to her husband
she manages the affairs of the household.
When Paul wrote concerning male
leadership in the church he referred to the function of Christian women. He said, “She shall be saved in childbearing,
if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety (1 Timothy 2:15).” God has
given the role of leadership in the church to the man. That is his function in the church. God has given the role of rearing children to
women. That is her function in the
church and home. The rearing of children
must be her focus. When a woman spends
her time in the home, managing the affairs of the home, and rearing the
children she is fulfilling her God given role.
She is doing God’s work. She will
save her soul as long as she is faithful also in other areas of her Christian
life.
Those godly, Christian women who
“guide the house,” and are “keepers at home,” are doing one of the most
important works in this world. They are
molding the future of church and society.
They are rearing future generations. They are shaping the lives of young
children. They stand between Satan and
their children, strengthening their children spiritually for the time when they
shall go out into the world on their own.
They are working hard to make sure the physical, emotional, and
spiritual needs of their children are met.
They give their time, emotions, and energy to this monumental and
exceedingly worthy effort. May God bless those who “guide the house.”