Written by Sheryl Shaffer
In a culture that embraces the career minded woman and encourages women’s independence, this column may come across as archaic. Perhaps so, if viewed from a world-view perspective.
In a culture that embraces the career minded woman and encourages women’s independence, this column may come across as archaic. Perhaps so, if viewed from a world-view perspective.
Before a woman chooses any
kind of job, whatever the reason, she needs to first seek her husband’s counsel
and know the mind of Christ on the matter.
Never is it biblical for a woman to choose an occupation outside of the
authority of her husband. The world may
not see it that way…but God does.
I Corinthians 11:8-9 “For the man is not
of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Neither was the man created for the woman: but the woman for the man.”
Most young brides are working
a full time job of some kind when they marry.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a young wife continuing to work
after marriage, as long as her husband gives his blessing to it. At the time of marriage, a wife’s duty is
turned toward her husband. That is what
a biblical helpmeet is all about.
As I approach our 39th
wedding anniversary, I can look back on a lifetime of working on behalf of my husband and his ministry for the Lord. I have spent the last twenty plus years
teaching in our Christian
School all without a
paycheck. My duty has been to my husband
and to the Lord. I have considered it a
blessing to serve people in this way. Have there been times when our family
could have used another paycheck from my time working? Absolutely! A multitude of times! But I had children at home and a husband who
needed my help more, so we chose to walk by faith, live frugally and trust
God.
Our work in the ministry was
a joint effort. We worked together for the sake of the
families we were trying to minister to.
One of the disadvantages of a wife working away from her husband is that
it usually causes her to develop a completely separate life from that of her
husband. This is not healthy for a
spiritually minded couple. It really attacks the oneness that should define a
Christian marriage. I have also learned
this first hand.
Almost three years ago, for
the first time in our 39 years of marriage, I took a part-time job at a local
pharmacy in order to help pay expenses for our daughter’s up-coming
wedding. I have enjoyed this experience
very much. For the first time since I
left college, I received a personal paycheck for my labor. I found traveling to this job relaxing and
working the job was very stress relieving for me as it has taken me out of
“normal” life…the ministry life. I
could go to my job, work hard and forget the rest of life for 6-8 hours.
The Lord allowed me to cover
most of the costs for my daughter’s wedding and even do some generous things
for others with my earned salary. I’m
thankful for this opportunity. I can now
see that being away from my husband (even with his consent and blessing) has
not always been best for him. Never
before has he had to fend for himself to have a meal prepared. I was always there for him. You might say, “What’s the big deal? Can’t he
take care of himself?” Yes, I believe he
can, but is that God’s will for his life or mine? A biblical woman’s first responsibility
before God is to be a helpmate to her husband.
Any work I do outside of that should be secondary to that first
calling. My husband’s leadership and his
needs should govern any work I do.
What ever work a Biblically
thinking wife may choose really should aid and help her husband. What ever she does should fall under her
husband’s leadership and should not interfere with her role as a helpmate.
Perhaps you are a wife whose
husband demands that you work outside the home.
Biblically, you must follow his leadership even if your heart wants to
do differently. This kind of situation
will test your own character and confidence in God. God can use this kind of situation and cause
you to lean on Him more. Don’t fuss and
nag because you hate what you’re doing.
Strive to keep a biblical mindset and with your husband’s blessing be a
faithful worker at the job and a helpmate at home.
The key to all this:
Follow your husband’s leadership and trust the Lord to fill in the
financial blanks.
3 comments:
Wonderful post! Thank you!
Thank you Mrs. Shaffer. I know first hand how important it is for Mom to be at home when she has little one's in the home. I worked outside the home all of my children's growing up years and that is one of the things I would seek to change if I were able to go back.
Another great article! I just sent this to my czech friends who understand english.Emilie
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