Home "making" -- A Time Investment

I had just finished sharing about the womanly privilege of edifying husbands and building homes. We looked at Proverbs 31, Genesis 2, 1 Cor.11.9 "...nor was man created for the woman, but the woman for the man," and more.

She apprehended me in the lady's room. "All those things you shared today are okay if you don't work full time. But I do. He gets home before I do. I walk in the door at 6:00pm to find 6 kids who all have questions for me, and dinner is waiting to be made. He's already been home for a while. Shouldn't he be helping me? How am I supposed to do what you talked about?"

Sigh. This question about how to juggle all these duties is a common one. Women's magazines have been trying to supply solutions for years now. Articles about managing an office and a home are prolific. It is a tricky dilemma, indeed.

But the greater difficulty is that we don't even see the problem, the inconsistency with the Word of God. Her husband is unhappy, feeling worthless in all that he does at home (he told her as much.) The kids are restless and needy, unable to help. Who will stop and fill the gap? Who should? God has already supplied that answer. She was made for him.

"Have you asked your husband how he feels about your work? Does he agree that it is assisting him in his calling from God? Does he feel it is helping him accomplish that which he has been called to do -- to raise up a future generation who knows God and loves Him, to serve in the local church, and to extend the kingdom of heaven here on earth?"

In our present culture, many husbands are in the same quandry because they want their wives in the work force -- that second income has become vital. They believe their wives should be heavily contributing to the household budget. But isn't it possible that there is something more valuable for a woman to contribute than a second income, even if that second income is the bigger one? (Is it possible that such a situation in itself could be detrimental to a husband?) What eternal treasure could she be contributing instead?

Perhaps we should have a course on Titus 2 for men as well so that they can understand the demands of building a home. Husbands and wives alike must be renewed in their thinking. Women need to be encouraged in this calling and husbands need to release them to it. May we see it happening more and more.

"Lord, let your word go forth in power to your people this day. Help us to apply it in very practical ways in our homes, marriages, relationships, work places, and in our hearts. We are a desperate people, for sure. But You, oh God, are a great and mighty God who delights in teaching us Your Holy ways. Lead us, this day, into truth and holiness. Be glorified in all we do. Amen."