How
do I respond to those
who scorn me for keeping my home?
This is a letter from keeper at home with a problem and our answer:
Letter from the Home Maker
Hello,
I would
like to know how you think I should respond to friends and family who
feel
that I am "wasting" my life being a keeper at home? My husband and I feel
very
strongly that a woman's God given place is in the home regardless of
whether
or not there are children.
Our
lives have been blessed big time since we gave up our will on this point
and
obeyed Scripture. I feel blessed to be able to be at home and follow this
much
ignored principle but at the same time I constantly feel like I have to
justify
myself to others. Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks- A Keeper at Home
_____________
Comment by Steve Van Nattan
You will note a comment that seems to imply that the lady is at home, but children are not yet there. There is a mindset abroad in Bible believing churches that you don't need to stay at home until you have kids. Where is THAT in the Bible? It is very plain, if you are not brain dead, that women who start marriage away from their home are not very eager to have kids. They get established in the market place, and the couple dive into debt requiring two incomes, and to hell with kids.
Home is home, with or without a coral full of kids.
_____________
Our answer to the Keeper at Home:
We hear this quite often. Here are some thoughts and a report card. I assume you are, or hope to be, a home schooling Mom.
Here are some thoughts from the Word of God:
2 Corinthians 13:7 (KJV) Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
There WILL ALWAYS be someone who calls you reprobate and an offense to God for following biblical truth and acting upon it. In fact, I hear all the time of pastors attacking home schoolers and trying to get women out of their homes and into the market place. The real reprobate is the one used of Satan to judge and accuse you, and you must not let them have ANY influence in your thinking. Your husband should read this, for if he is not aggressively defending you to all those who question your zeal, he should call me. We need to talk.
1 Corinthians 11:19 (KJV) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
You are first and foremost taking care of your home and being a help meet to your husband. But, unknown to you, you serve God another way-- you will be used as "evidence for the prosecution" at the judgment of works of the saints. When some diddle head asks God why their works and accomplishments went up in flames, he will point them to your works, and they will fall silent. There will be a day of vindication. And, you may be made manifest sooner than you thought. I hear all the time of Moms groaning about not staying at home after they saw the results of some home schooling Mom they used to think was evil.
2 Corinthians 7:11 (KJV) For behold this selfsame thing, that ye (1) sorrowed after a godly sort, what (2) carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what (3) clearing of yourselves, yea, what (4) indignation, yea, what (5) fear, yea, what (6) vehement desire, yea, what (7) zeal, yea, what (8) revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
You asked, "I would like to know how you think I should respond to friends and family who feel that I am "wasting" my life being a keeper at home?"
Here is your report card:
You need to ask yourself another question-- "How far have I progressed in the God given plan for victory in 2 Corinthians 7:11?
(1) Sorrow--
It is clear that, if you were not always in the home in the beginning, you are now. A+ here(2) Carefulness--
High marks here for being careful to be a Mom to your kids and obey your husband. A+ here(3) Clearing--
Whatever bad choices were in the beginning of your home making days, I see they are far in the past now. A+ here(4) Indignation--
I don't see any indignation in your view of others who offend your home in their judgmental attitude. Incomplete-- Do this lesson over please :-)(5) Fear--
I see very good agreement with God and your husband in doing what they want. A+ here(6) Vehement Desire--
Your letter itself shows your desire to keep the home in the model of Proverbs 31. A+ here(7) Zeal--
Zealous without a doubt but a little distracted by the unrighteous. B+ here(8) Revenge-- This is your next course, teacher-- you need to look for how the Lord would use you to put some things right. You may want to assign your husband to do this one though :-)
So, you really have exceptional grades. Just ignore the C- students, and move on.
Romans 8:29 (KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
"Conform to Christ" is ALL you are asked to do. God does not expect you to placate and pamper rebels.
Do keep in touch as the Lord leads, and I would welcome a note from your husband.
In Christ Jesus
Steve Van Nattan