Whether a woman should work outside the home is a topic of some debate among Christians. I'm not interesting in starting an argument, but I would like to introduce you to three women who had impact in the world outside the home. Here are their stories:

The first is Lydia. Her story can be found in Acts 16 where she is mentioned in verses 13-15 and 40.

Lydia is described as a seller of purple and a worshipper of God. She played an instrumental role in encouraging Paul and the others traveling with him. According to Women of the Bible by Sue and Dr. Larry Richards, Lydia's business specialized in luxury. Purple dye was difficult to obtain. She also oversaw a fairly large household, and was unmarried. It appears that her pursuits kept her busy and productive both in and out of the home (to be a dealer in purple cloth, she must have interacted with people away from her own home from time to time.) She was described in verse 15 as "faithful to the Lord" by Paul. Had he felt she was misguided in being a businesswoman, he likely would not have showered such high praise.

The story of Deborah appears in the Old Testament, in Judges 4 and 5. She served as a prophetess and a judge, both important roles in the life of Israel  Judges were often men, but in this case, God appointed a woman for the role. While being a leader, the Israelites engaged in a successful battle with the Canaanites. Deborah must have been very good at her job, because her army commander, Barak, said he would lead the army as long as Deborah went with him. God seems to have restricted her from leading the army herself, (it is wise for women to know and accept healthy boundaries and limitations) and Barak had already been promised victory in verses 6-7. But this shows the respect that he and the people had for Deborah. Obviously, this type of leadership could not take place only in a home setting.

The last woman I'd like you to meet is one you may not be as familiar with. In 2 Kings 22:13-14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22 we meet another prophetess, Huldah. What is interesting about her is that at King Josiah's request, representatives came to find Huldah so that she could help them know the will of God and return to Him at a time when the people had not been following Him. She is briefly mentioned as a wife as well. There is no indication that her husband had a problem with her public role as a prophetess.

Sometimes it's difficult for Christian woman to know whether they should or should not work outside the home. Taking in the "whole counsel of God'" I do not think a statement can be made to fully command one approach or the other.  Instead, I see the following:

-God has equipped women with skills and gifts
-God desires women to be productive
-God does place importance on home management and family roles
-Women with young families should probably be especially aware of what affect their outside work will/can on the family, both positive or negative (be aware that sometimes, Dads staying home while a wife works can be a great fit for certain families!)
-God is honored by unity between husband and wife
-Women are wise to understand their limitations or boundaries
-Women should be encouraging one another to fulfill their roles in godly and productive ways, not projecting their individual choices on other women as absolutes
-A woman should consider why she wants to work outside the home and if lifestyle choices put too much pressure on the family finances.

I think a fitting conclusion to the matter, for both men and women, is summed up in Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Print This