I learned something about systematic theology this week. I’m not in seminary, but am taking a self-study course that is fairly deep regarding theological foundations of faith. I never really knew what systematic theology was, but I learned that it a method of study that takes into account the “whole counsel of God” when considering a matter or doctrine. This means that a student consider what the Bible has to say overall about a topic, and is careful not to take one phrase or verse and create an entire practice on it. This was interesting timing considering that my last two posts on this subject had to do with specific verses or phrases that are used, or perhaps misused, to “prove” that a woman should not work outside the home.
This leads well into another passage worth looking at -- Proverbs 31. This chapter is often used to portray the “ideal Christian woman.” If you read it and expect to become and do all it says at once, you are in for a tough journey! I’m not sure this passage was about one specific woman, but it certainly shares many characteristics of a godly one.
Let’s look specifically at some sections of this passage that have to do with work:
She does her husband good all her days (so they would be in unity about her work)
She works willingly
She brings food from afar…she is not afraid to find the best things for her family
She rises early to work and provide
She thoughtfully considers purchases (field) and then is willing to work the field
She offers profitable merchandise, so is involved in the economy
She is productive (there’s that word again)
Her works praise her in the gates (she is known in the community)
An overall theme here is that she is a hard-working, productive woman! That is very cooperative with Paul’s admonition for women to be busy and productive.
One could argue that many of these tasks were done at home, or near the home. Yes, I can go along with that. I work from home about half my week and am privileged to do so. I highly recommend that if at all possible, a woman who (in unity with her husband) decides to help contribute to the family income, try to find a job with some flexibility and the possibility of working from the house some of the time. That said, you cannot argue though that this Proverbs woman was ALWAYS at home and ONLY at home. She could not go out and consider purchase of property if she was always at home. Her work would probably not be known in the gates (important places for commerce, by the way) if she only was at home. She obviously sold merchandise that she made, and could not do that only from home (they didn’t have the Internet back then.) So, yes, this woman was a presence in the economic marketplace in her time. She managed her time well, worked hard, got out into the community and brought benefit to her husband and family.
This passage does not address full or part time work, it does not specifically address a variety of careers. But the principles of care for family and productivity are obvious, just like they are in Titus and 1 Timothy. A key factor is also unity with her husband, another theme carried out in other places in Scripture.
So what can we conclude from the Scriptures we have already looked at?
Women are to be productive
Women are to use their skills and talents wisely, not wasting them
Women are to seek unity and cooperation with their husbands in terms of their contribution to the family (every family is different and I believe that husbands and wives should work together in a mutually submissive attitude to determine what best fits their family needs)
Women can and often should (with earnings, wise spending or both) contribute to the financial health of the family
Women are not forbidden to work, though in some stages of life, work that allows a good deal of time at home could be the best option, especially when children are young.
Women are to encourage one another in their roles, not demoralize one another with judgmental attitudes.
With my next posts, we will look at a few Bible women who are specific examples in terms of their work. Until then, work heartily, as to the Lord!
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This leads well into another passage worth looking at -- Proverbs 31. This chapter is often used to portray the “ideal Christian woman.” If you read it and expect to become and do all it says at once, you are in for a tough journey! I’m not sure this passage was about one specific woman, but it certainly shares many characteristics of a godly one.
Let’s look specifically at some sections of this passage that have to do with work:
She does her husband good all her days (so they would be in unity about her work)
She works willingly
She brings food from afar…she is not afraid to find the best things for her family
She rises early to work and provide
She thoughtfully considers purchases (field) and then is willing to work the field
She offers profitable merchandise, so is involved in the economy
She is productive (there’s that word again)
Her works praise her in the gates (she is known in the community)
An overall theme here is that she is a hard-working, productive woman! That is very cooperative with Paul’s admonition for women to be busy and productive.
One could argue that many of these tasks were done at home, or near the home. Yes, I can go along with that. I work from home about half my week and am privileged to do so. I highly recommend that if at all possible, a woman who (in unity with her husband) decides to help contribute to the family income, try to find a job with some flexibility and the possibility of working from the house some of the time. That said, you cannot argue though that this Proverbs woman was ALWAYS at home and ONLY at home. She could not go out and consider purchase of property if she was always at home. Her work would probably not be known in the gates (important places for commerce, by the way) if she only was at home. She obviously sold merchandise that she made, and could not do that only from home (they didn’t have the Internet back then.) So, yes, this woman was a presence in the economic marketplace in her time. She managed her time well, worked hard, got out into the community and brought benefit to her husband and family.
This passage does not address full or part time work, it does not specifically address a variety of careers. But the principles of care for family and productivity are obvious, just like they are in Titus and 1 Timothy. A key factor is also unity with her husband, another theme carried out in other places in Scripture.
So what can we conclude from the Scriptures we have already looked at?
Women are to be productive
Women are to use their skills and talents wisely, not wasting them
Women are to seek unity and cooperation with their husbands in terms of their contribution to the family (every family is different and I believe that husbands and wives should work together in a mutually submissive attitude to determine what best fits their family needs)
Women can and often should (with earnings, wise spending or both) contribute to the financial health of the family
Women are not forbidden to work, though in some stages of life, work that allows a good deal of time at home could be the best option, especially when children are young.
Women are to encourage one another in their roles, not demoralize one another with judgmental attitudes.
With my next posts, we will look at a few Bible women who are specific examples in terms of their work. Until then, work heartily, as to the Lord!
Print This
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