From the editor: apologies that this article is being uploaded so late, we will do better in the new year by His Grace! Enjoy❤️
The qTitus Two Woman too:
One of the Bible passages people use to support the traditional or stereotypical view that women should be housewives or stay-at-home mothers, limiting their role and Christian ministry to the four walls of the home is Titus 2:3-5: “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
Titus 2:3-5 NKJV. But is this Scripture really about restricting the role and ministry of women, especially the married ones, to staying at home to cook, clean the house and raise children? Are women not allowed by God to use their spiritual gifts outside the home as well? Let’s answer these questions by taking a closer look at the passage.
1. The woman doesn’t have authority in the home. Some say the wife doesn’t have authority in the home because she’s not the head. In some societies, this kind of belief allows the in-laws or other members of the community to ride roughshod over the woman, maltreating, humiliating and ordering her around in her own house.
The Scripture tells us that woman has a great deal of authority in how she runs her home, and she is indeed a ruler. 1 Timothy 5:14, the apostle Paul says she is a ruler or master in her home: “Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”
I Timothy 5:14 NKJV
“Guide the house” in the original Greek Language means “to be master (or head) of a house; to rule a household or manage family affairs” As a ruler or master of her house, the wife provides oversight as a watchman of the home so that there is no occasion for the enemy to bring an accusation or reproach. She accomplishes this role with her strength of character and godly influence. She uses her authority for the good of her household and to bring honour to her husband. Mind you, she is not to disrespect or fight her in-laws, guests or visitors. She should also remember that her authority or rule is not over her husband. The wife is the manager of the home, but the husband is the manager of the wife: Ephesians 5:23: “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.”
Ephesians 5:23 NKJV
2. The only realm that belongs to a woman is her home. Since the precursor to The Titus 2 Woman is The Proverbs 31 Woman, we can learn a great deal about how God views a well-respected wife and mother. What we find in Proverbs 31 is that the woman’s influence is not just in the home. She devises a plan or an agenda, conceives an idea, determines a course of action and from that plan, buys a field or a piece of land, Proverbs 31:16: “She considereth a field, and buyeth it: With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.”
Proverbs 31:16 KJV. From her earnings, she plants a vineyard and supplies belts to the tradesmen: “She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: Her candle goeth not out by night. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.”
Proverbs 31:18, 24 KJV
The woman’s realm is also in the marketplace, the workplace and in the management of finance. The Titus 2 Woman is a wife, mother, a homemaker, and a worker. She juggles the responsibilities of a wife and a mother with work and homemaking.
3. The woman only caters for and supports her family. Those who promote this belief support it with Titus 2:3-4: “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”
Titus 2:3-4 KJV
But Proverbs 31:20 says: “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.”
Proverbs 31:20 KJV
Her liberality is very extensive; it reaches to many outside and at a distance. It is done with great cheerfulness and readiness. She is not contented to give common alms. While with one hand, she relieves the general poor, with both hands, she gives to the needy— the afflicted poor.
THE IDEAL WIFE NOVEMBER 2022:
BE THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN:
The Proverbs 31 Woman graciously exhibits godly traits that make her a role model. She makes the best use of her time to accomplish much as a believer, a mother, a wife, and an entrepreneur. She is an important person respected by everybody. Her godly lifestyle and influence also bring respect to her husband. She is God’s model of an ideal wife. Women should copy her. Men too can learn a lot from her.
Her Sterling Character:
The first part of Proverbs 31:10 literally reads: “ Who can find a woman of strength?” The term “virtuous “ is from a noun meaning strength, efficiency, and ability. Here, it refers to strength of character, that is, moral strength and firmness. In Exodus 18:21, we find the expression used of men. Moses was to find “able men” ( literally, men of strength”) such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. In light of this verse, we can say that a virtuous man (and by implication, a virtuous woman) is one who fears God, loves the truth and hates sin (compare Proverbs 31:10 and 31:30). Moses was to look for and find such men, and the implication is that such men were not easy to find.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies”. A type of The Proverbs 31 Woman is rare and in short supply today. She is a rare gem. She’s priceless. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her…”(verse 11). Sadly, this cannot be said of some wives. Their husbands can’t trust them. Being able to trust your spouse fully is one of the fundamental foundations of a strong God-honouring marriage. Martin Luther said of his wife, “ The greatest gift of God is a pious amiable spouse, who fears God, loves his house, and with whom one can live in perfect confidence.”
The husband of this virtuous woman trusts her for two reasons. First, “he shall have no need of spoil.” She is not slothful, careless or wasteful. She manages the home so well, and she is so industrious, productive, and frugal that her efforts result in prestige gain and even profit. Her husband can safely trust her because he does not need to worry about her being a financial liability.
Second, “ She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life”(verse 12). She constantly has her husband in view. Her good is unmixed; her good is not capricious. It is constant and permanent, while she and her husband live. She also adds to her husband’s reputation in the world, for he is “known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land”(verse 23). He is respected and honoured by others, not just because of the neatness and cleanliness of his person and dress, but because he is the husband of a woman who is justly held in universal esteem.
Moreover, this godly woman is skilled and capable of working with fabric. The modern counterpart would be skilled in things like quilting and sewing (verse 13). Notice that she works. There is no hint of laziness in her. She “worketh willingly with her hands”. She is “willing to get her hands dirty”, as the old saying goes. A woman of God is not “above” manual work. She understands that the duties of a wife and mother include ensuring that her family is well fed (verse 15: “She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth meat to her household, And a portion to her maidens.”
Proverbs 31:15 KJV). A virtuous, Biblical woman will not only go about to learn the necessary cooking skills, but will also study sound nutrition and will ensure that her family is fed nutritiously, not with a high proportion of out -of-the-box junk food. She is not given to sleeping in the morning (verse 15). No! Rather, she is up before dawn to make sure that her household is well fed.
“She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard” (verse 16). Amazing! She is no wimp!
She has the intelligence and business sense to evaluate a piece of property and to buy it. She has her own earnings with which she buys the field and plants a vineyard. She is not afraid of physical work. Like her, many women today have their own home-made businesses. She seems to be a tailor who sells garments and sashes(verse 18,19,24: “She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: Her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, And her hands hold the distaff. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.”
Proverbs 31:18-19, 24 KJV). She apparently did her business well into the evening, because her trading (was) profitable. Her home-based skills earn her a profitable income. She is ever willing to share this blessing with the poor and needy( verse 20: “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.”
Proverbs 31:20 KJV). She is also fully aware of the priority of her family in her life over other things than might sidetrack her from her domestic responsibilities (verse 21: “She is not afraid of the snow for her household: For all her household are clothed with scarlet.”
Proverbs 31:21 KJV). She is an excellent illustration of the charge to younger women in Titus 2:5: “to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
Titus 2:5 KJV, to be homemakers. Not only do her skills earn her an income from the merchants, but she also makes sure that her own home’s needs are well catered for.
Finally, she has a sense of dignity. She is not frivolous or embarrassing in her conduct; she speaks with wisdom, and she is praiseworthy (verse 25-31: “Strength and honour are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:25-31 KJV
To Be Continued…
May the grace to please The LORD our God be multiplied in our life in JESUS Christ Mighty Name Amen .
Be focused, be watchful in readiness for the coming of The LORD JESUS. May the grace to be fully ready be upon us all in JESUS Christ Mighty Name Amen ❤️
My apology for the lateness in this post.
Shalom
Mrs Angelinah Olubunmi Peters
My LORD JESUS Is Alive In me
