One of the concepts that has been lost in our culture has been that of the differing roles between men and women. One role is not greater than another role, just different. The woman had a lot of power in her home before she decided to step out of her God ordained role as keeper of the home. She had the power to make or break a home based on her attitude toward her job.
A woman who does her job well, manages the home as a CEO would manage a company. The husband is the leader and depends on the capabilities of his wife to run an efficient environment.
Within that role the wife plans meals, teaches the children, arranges for the cloths for all the family, handles personalities according to God's standards. She also see to it that nothing enters her home that would be harmful to her family. She maintains a clean, safe, nurturing and training environment. Her husband has great confidence in her ability to do this. She is a decorator, a nurse, a nutritionist, a manager of all the goods and food that enter the home. She is a gardener, a chef, a counselor, a teacher, and a shopper for the best deals for the greatest quality, she will also be a seamstress. She is an office manager in the paperwork, the planning of finances, organization of the home office. She even makes articles and sells them.
If a woman were to do this job for a wealthy family, earning a wage, she would be said to have a great career. If she does this for her family without a paycheck, she is said to be a "housewife." Our culture is silly, when it comes to this, we have denigrated the homemaking career to the position of worthless.
Most women today in our children's generation don't bother with "managing" their homes, they work outside of it and neglect all the duties that God ordained for them to do, in favor of the almighty dollar and for recognition in the community. These women go into the world to work under the authority of another person, very often a man and must obey that person to keep their job. Why then do they call themselves independent and refuse to place themselves under their husbands at home.
If a woman does her job of Homemaking as unto the Lord she will be fulfilled and happy. Her skills will far exceed those of a woman who does one kind of job outside the home, under restrictions by her boss as to how creative she can be on the job. At home, I have had wonderful freedom to use whatever skills God has given me, I have never been bored.
If we are focused on living the Proverbs 31 life as God ordained, we can be much more creative, do it in our own schedule and enjoy the smiles of a husband who feels loved by a woman who will dedicate her entire life to her children and husband. God placed the woman under the authority of the husband, it is not different than working outside the home under another man or woman who gives you a paycheck, except that God is not pleased with our dedication being to another authority, who is not our husband.
We are to be devoted to our families, they are always to come first in all our decisions. We must realize and admit that we can not do this if our loyalties are divided. We tend to admire a missionary who gives up a career to go to the mission field, but we mock a woman who has chosen to obey God and do the same thing for her family. If we live life, God's way, we will not only be fulfilled but we will have all our needs taken care of.... did we all hear that.... our needs, not wants but needs. And, I am living proof that we can do this job and be happy and fulfilled.
We will have difficulties in life, we will make mistakes and commit sins, but if we stay the course, correcting the mistakes and repenting from the sins, God will bless what He knows to be in our heart. A heart like David’s, a heart that seeks God. We too can be called the apple of His eyes, as He overlooks our frail humanness to see the Holy Spirit that lives in us and the heart that loves Him. Ladies, if you are working in the world, go home, dedicate your life to your family and watch the blessing God will have for you as you obey Him.
