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The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Behind every
successful man is a woman. These sayings apply even in the
spiritual realm. When godly women do the work that God has
laid upon their hearts to do – to nurture and to teach the
young – they will have a profound impact on generations to
come. There was a Samuel because there was a Hannah who
prayed. Timothy as a child learned the Holy Scriptures from
his grandmother and mother (2 Tim 3:15; 1:5).
+ Ladies, you have an important role in the covenant
of grace. You may never know the influence you can make in
another person’s life when you faithfully fulfil God’s
calling for you.
the character and duty of Old women (2:3)
The older women are to be models for the younger women.
Older women must “be in behaviour as becometh holiness”
(2:3). The older woman must display holiness in her daily
living. She is to be reverent, one for whom all of life is a
sacred duty.
A. Aged Woman and Her Tongue
The false teachers are described as “vain talkers
…deceivers” (1:10) and “liars” (1:12). Christians
must be distinctly different in our speech. The godly lady
is not a false accuser (Gk: diabolos). Diabolos
also means devil, who is “the accuser of the brethren”
(Rev 12:10).
+ “Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And
grieve not the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph 4:29-30).
B. Aged Woman and Her Appetite
The aged woman is “not given to much wine.” The word
“given” is translated servants and bondage (2 Pet 2:19).
Godly women are not to be enslaved by their appetites.
+ Freely enjoy the things for which God has
blessed you but do not be enslaved (1 Cor 6:12).
C. Aged Woman and Her Responsibility
Godly women are teachers of good things. This is the
responsibility of older women and the relationship they must
have with the younger women. Older women must teach younger
women by example and by instruction.
+ Get involved! Be concerned about the faith
of the next generation.
The
character and duty of Young women
(2:4-5)
The false teachers on the island of Crete were subverting
whole houses (1:11). They were teaching ideas that
undermined the family. False teachings break apart families.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon spiritually matured
Christian women to be teachers of good things. To “teach”
means “to bring to one’s senses.”
By virtue of their experiences as wives and
mothers, older Christian women have the duty to teach young
ladies the biblical perspective on womanhood. This is
important because God has made the covenant home a vital
part of our calling and witness to the world, and He has
ordained women to be wives and mothers for that purpose.
A. Young Woman and Her Family
Young ladies must be taught to love the family – to love
their husbands (Gk:
philandros)
and to love their children (Gk: philoteknos).
God desires our home to be filled with love. The home is the
place where the woman learns devotion to her husband and her
children.
+ Are you the agent of God’s love in the
home?
B. Young Woman and Her Heart
Young ladies must be taught to be discreet and chaste. The
word “discreet” means to control one’s passions. It is to be
“temperate” (2:2) and “sober” (1:8). This is a virtue that
is common to all. Every man and woman, regardless of age, is
to exercise control over one’s passions.
To be chaste is to be pure in thought,
speech, behaviour and appearance. “Whose adorning let it
not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be
the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet
3:3-4).
+ The godly woman is one who cultivates
godliness in her heart and manifests that godliness in her
life.
C. Young Woman and Her Home
Young ladies are to be keepers at home, good and obedient to
their own husbands. “Keepers at home” literally means
“home-worker.” The woman in Proverbs 31 is the example.
While the work of the Proverbs 31 woman extends beyond the
home, the home remains the centre and the focus of her life.
+ Are you a keeper of Christian homes?
Younger women must be taught to be good. To be good is to be
of benefit to some one. We are saved by grace through faith
“…unto good works” (Eph 2:10).
Younger women must be taught to be obedient to their own
husbands (Eph 5:22). The wife’s obedience is voluntary; it
is a submission that flows out of her greater submission to
God’s established order for the home. Submission is not the
taking away of freedom. On the contrary, it is godly
submission that allows for true freedom (John 8:32).
+ True freedom is comes from obeying God’s
Word.
+ Christian wives: God expects you to submit
to your husband in the same way and to the same extent that
the church is to submit to our Lord Jesus Christ.
The husband is commanded to love his wife (Eph 5:25). The
husband is to love his wife as Christ also loves the church
– a love is to be pro-active (1 John 4:10), and a love that
is perfect (Jer 31:3; Eph 2:4).
+ Christian husbands: God expects you to
love your wife perfectly even though she may not submit to
you perfectly.
Word of God Be Not Blasphemed
“…that the word of God be not blasphemed”
(2:5). The implication is that the people who live in
Christian homes who blaspheme the Word of God. To
“blaspheme” means “to discredit.” Christians blaspheme the
Word of God when our lives are not consistent with the Word
of God. What matters most is that which honours Christ.
+ The Gospel is to be lived as much as it is to be
preached. |
