Strong, productive women are nothing to be afraid of.
To expand upon
my last post….
Here’s an exercise for all of you insecure guys who want to keep your women locked up in the house all day. Print out a copy of
Proverbs 31:10-31 (the description of an excellent wife), and highlight all the words that denote the realm of the Market: that is, anything having to do with monetary value, commodities, buying and selling, etc. I prefer the using the color green for such a purpose, but you may use any color you want:
10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
So you see that it is noble and honorable for a wife to interact in the marketplace, buying, selling, and working for the security and honor of her family. This passage perfectly avoids both extremes:
eating the bread of idleness, and
being driven like a slave. Whenever humanly possible, a wife should be given the choice and opportunity to work either from or outside the home, as long as both parents commit to take care of emotional and physical needs of the children first. Among neighbors and especially within the church, there are many ways to accomplish this for the good of each family and for the glory of God. [For more details on that, see the
next post...]
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