Lesson #6

Train the Young Women to be Keepers at Home (Titus 2:4-5)

by Barbara Deal

"A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done." This old saying, while not exactly accurate, does point to a fact. Our subject for this lesson-"keepers at home'' shows constant and continual care on a woman's part. There are more important things than keeping the house in a woman's life, as indicated by the lesson of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), but nothing will require more time, energy, or ingenuity. The more important occurrences such as Bible study, love of husband and children, and building attitudes within ourselves and others will all be exhibited by keeping our home.

Let us read our basic text, Titus 2:5. In the King James Version, we are instructed to be "keepers at home." The Revised Standard Version uses the word "domestic." Domestic, according to the dictionary, means "preferring home life." Phillips' Translation says "home lovers," and the New English Bible uses "busy at home." In looking up the Greek word used here, o ikouros, we find its original meaning is "a keeper or guard of a house; a homekeeper; stay at home, domestic."

For a second, let's put all the meanings together and discover what we are talking about. We want to be a woman who loves to stay at home, busily keeping it and guarding it. In Proverbs 16:3, it is written, "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." With the Lord as our guide, our work at home will be firm and stable.

The Lord gives us some guidance about working in general.

"In toil there is profit" (Proverbs 14:23).
"If any one will not work, let him not eat" (II Thessalonians 3: 10).
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth. 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them'" (Revelation 14: 13).
"Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you" (Psalms 128:1-2).

The Word of God and Women Working

The most liberated woman in the world is the Christian woman. Even in Old Testament times, the Jewish woman had greater liberties, more varied employment, and more respected social standing than any other woman. In the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12), God requires children to honor their mother and father. In creation, God's plan for woman is man's complement, essential to the perfection of his being. Men and women have no superiority or inferiority, only a difference of function.

Here are some examples of domestic functions of women found in the Bible.

Rachel tended sheep (Genesis 29:6).
The seven daughters of the priest of Midian came to water their father's sheep (Exodus 2:16).
The women spun cloth for the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:26).
The "good wife'' weaves for her family (Proverbs 31:19).
Dorcas made coats and garments for the widows (Acts 9:39).
''She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household" (Proverbs 31:15).
Tamar prepared bread for her brother (II Samuel 13:8).
Martha served supper to our Lord (John 12:2).
Sarah prepared cakes for the three guests (Genesis 18:6).
Abigail prepared food for David and his men (I Samuel 25:18).
The woman of Shunem prepared for Elisha (II Kings 4:8-10).
Rebekah drew water for Abraham's servant (Genesis 24:15-20).
Young maidens came to draw water (I Samuel 9:11).
The woman at the well in Samaria came to draw water (John 4:7).

These examples show women tending animals, spinning and sewing, preparing meals, receiving guests, and drawing water. They indicate Bible women had a busy but blessed, work-filled but wonderful, life. This was never more true than now. The Christian woman of today has even more responsibilities but she also has more help to meet them. Let us think together about today's keeper at home.

Queen or Quitter

Christian women in the home have the same responsibilities throughout our country today. The amount of time required for each responsibility is determined by the size of her home, the size of her family, and the age of her children. Our gadget-filled country certainly makes everything easier. Newlyweds come home to appliances and conveniences that mom and dad worked twenty-five years to acquire. Again, God has blessed women. Let us consider individual responsibilities.

Keeping the Home Clean

There is a saying, 'Everyone can clean a house, but not everyone can keep a house clean." A Christian woman keeps a house clean. This is a major, time-consuming area for women, especially if there are children. I can't say "how clean" or "how much time spent," but consider these few ideas.

Her house should be clean enough that the woman can feel satisfied with herself. This may sound strange, but a woman cannot be contented at home if there is a constant tugging of shame upon her concerning the cleanliness of the home. Sometimes, women try to cover up or fool themselves with "Oh, I don't care," but inside, she knows the truth. A clean house is not physically impossible now with great appliances and a degree of reasonable health. It is an attitude of laziness or the inability to start and finish a job that women must overcome to have a clean house.
The house should be clean enough for her husband to feel satisfied. There are too many important matters that come before husbands and wives, such as caring for and disciplining children, to let the home's cleanliness be a concern. It should be normal and regular that the house will be in order whenever he comes home. It is said that men actually stay away from home because of a cluttered or dirty home. This will never be in a Christian woman's home. She is always a Queen, never a Quitter.
The house should be clean enough that children feel free and happy to bring friends home anytime. Children do not always complain; they usually just stay away. A dirty home should never jeopardize our Christian relationship of loving and learning between mother and child.
The house should be clean enough that neighbors and friends feel warmth and joy in it. A woman's Christian life will be demonstrated in many ways, one of which is in her home.

As in other living situations, there are exceptions to the rule in housekeeping. The rule in a Christian home is cleanliness and no clutter. Occasionally, circumstances will break this rule. The whole family understands and helps. A woman is not ashamed when caught at times like these because she knows it is not the usual way her house looks. The husband will accept an occasional mess as unavoidable, and the children can overlook it. However, it must be the exception and never the rule.

Scheduling Our Time

The number of children in a home and their age will greatly influence the time spent maintaining the home. In some homes, the floors are cleaned twice a week, while in others, it is a daily routine. The time spent will be decided by the family's needs and the mother's quickness, but here are some general rules.

Have a routine. Set your schedule: maybe beds first or kitchen first in the morning. Follow the routine usually, making exceptions only occasionally.
Budget your time and energy wisely in your routine. Don't do all the hard or disliked jobs in one day. Plan your tasks so every day is enjoyable.
Save some time for those unexpecteds. There will be accidentals pills or breakage in every family. Keep calm; remember you have planned for them.
Schedule time for the house that will not detract from your part in the family unit. Be part of the family when they are together.
Use your energy wisely so you are physically and mentally ready to meet your and your husband's needs for each other.
Always put first things first. A sick friend, neighbor, or stranger should come before mopping the kitchen floor. A Bible class lesson to prepare will come before cleaning the picture window. A child's problem should be discussed before making the bed, and a husband's desire "to tell you something" will come before the supper dishes.

Our time is one of God's most precious gifts. We must make wise use of it.

Preparing Meals

Another important consideration of a '' keeper at home' is the preparation of meals (Proverbs 31:15). This is an individual family decision influenced mostly by needs and budget. There are a few general ideas to remember.

Planning is very important: plan for buying and also for preparation. A great deal of money can be saved if wise decisions are made about the family's real needs and likes. If the shopping list is planned, fewer trips to the store are necessary, which cuts down on impulse buying. Impulse buying can be a budget's worst enemy. A woman's planning can also mean more wise menus. The time spent checking our supply-shelf needs and the newspaper grocery ads is well spent. Also, planning is required for meals that are nutritious and different. It's not wise to plan to walk into the kitchen one-half hour ahead of a meal and say, "Let's see, what shall we eat today?' This will call for more commercially prepared, often costly, and less tasty items. There can also be planning made for unexpected guests or lack of time: always have something canned or frozen that can be called on if the need comes.
Have a garden area. How much will be determined by space and opportunity. A garden gives your children work and instruction, wonderful food to eat, savings in your budget, and a sense of achievement.
Teach your children, both boys and girls, to cook. This can be fun for all of you, but it is especially profitable for the children. There will come times of sickness when the husband and children will need to prepare the meals.

Caring for Clothing

Our next area of keeping a home to discuss will be clothing care (Proverbs 31:13, 21, 22, 31). These verses show us that clothing plays a big part in a woman's life; however, this is one area where appliances and materials have shortened the time spent. Automatic washers and dryers, especially with knits and wash-wear fabrics, have almost eliminated ironing. Detergents remove most dirt and stains now. There is still time needed for cleaning and care, and we will be wiser. It is possible to ruin clothes by unnecessary washing, too high water temperature, or too hot dryers. Of course, folding and putting things away does take time, too.

Repairs of clothing, especially children's clothing, become an always-present responsibility of homekeepers. A lesson soon learned should be to repair quickly. Tears, rips, and loose seams only get worse when washed or worn.

Sewing for the family has almost become necessary for every woman because of the cost of clothes. Adult education classes teach sewing, or friends can help you learn how. The Home Economics classes in our schools are wonderful for our young ladies.

Entertaining

The last area we will discuss is entertaining others. By this, I mean having outsiders in your home. A Christian woman's home will often have several kinds of visitors. These include:

Close friends whose presence mutually benefits both families.
People who can benefit from your having them in your home.
Strangers in need of companionship or physical necessities.
Visitors or newcomers to church services.

Our entertaining may range from a full meal to only soft drinks, but the important thing is an open home and open fellowship (I John 1:7)

Conclusion

Keeping our home running smoothly will be a full-time job for everyone. But it is a rewarding experience every day. Our children will be taught by example and actual work. This will mean they are prepared for their own homes after marriage. Our husbands will be proud of us and eager to come home. We will have a feeling of accomplishment and peace. This can only mean a relaxed atmosphere in the home, ready for each family activity. Christ is with us in our home, God is always present, the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

"She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates" (Proverbs 31:27-31).

Questions

Using the meaning of keeper at home in Titus 2:5, what does God expect of a woman as her responsibility at home?
If we commit our work to the Lord, how will He help it?
What does the Bible suggest about work in general?
How do our functions compare with women's tasks in the Bible?
What determines the time spent in cleaning the home?
Give four hints on how well clean to keep the house.
Is it possible to have a house too clean to be comfortable? Explain?
What are some practical ways of keeping a house clean?
Give six hints on how to schedule your time.
What decides how our time will be spent?
How can we plan our food shopping?
How does planning save money?
What effect will it have on our family's health?
Why is it important to teach our children about food preparation?
Read Proverbs 31:13, 21, 22, 31. What did this woman feel was her responsibility for clothing?
Why should a Christian home entertain others?
Who should be entertained?
How much money must be spent on entertainment?