"Homemaking"

When posed with the question about my philosophy of homemaking, I really had to stop and think about it, and to be quite honest, I’m still not totally sure if I know exactly what I think about this topic. However, I am going to attempt to do my best to put my thoughts into words. I’ve heard many people claim that a woman’s place is in the home, some believe that a woman is to do nothing but be at home, cooking, cleaning and taking care of her children. Others believe that it is okay for a woman to work outside the home before children come into the family, but after children come then she should stay at home with them. Still others think that it is all right for a woman to work outside the home during all stages of life and children. So the question remains, which is choice is the right one? Is there a standard in the Bible that tells us one way or another, or is it just a matter of preference on the part of each couple?

My mom was what could technically be called a “stay-at-home-mom,” but at the same time she volunteered at a full-time level as my church’s secretary. We would leave my home for the office around nine o’clock every morning and not get home until two-thirty, or three o’clock in the afternoon. Even though my mom was not at home during the day, she still homeschooled me from kindergarten through the twelfth grade, and she is still homeschooling my brother! I must admit that there were times that I hated being homeschooled, and sharing that time with ministry work, but now as I look back, I see that I was able to learn many valuable lessons through seeing Mom work in ministry every day, and also I learned a lot of valuable office skills at an early age. I learned that it is possible to balance a ministry and a home life at the same time.

I know other women who stay at home all the time to raise their children. Many of them believe firmly that women are “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home…” (Titus 2:5). They believe that it is the man’s responsibility to go out and work and it is for the woman to be at home raising and training their children. But on the other hand there are families who have children and both the mom and dad work. I could not find any verses in the Bible that say that it is a sin for a woman to work outside the home, in fact there is evidence that it is okay for a woman to work in the Bible, “She maketh fine linen and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” (Proverbs 31:24).

In conclusion, I firmly believe that the matter of homemaking is up to each and every couple to decide for themselves. Their family should be considered, and what works best for everyone. If the woman is working simply so that they can live “beyond their means” then I believe that is a wrong motivation, especially if it is at the expense of her children. I believe that the children should come first in this decision. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).