“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:3-5 (KJV)
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:3-5 (NIV)
My daughter and I had a great conversation recently on being “keepers at home” and what that might look like. From a Biblical standpoint, no matter your season of life, it sounds like all of us should be keeping our homes. And God has a great reason for that (more details to come). The NIV version says “to be busy at home.” And if you do everything in your home that needs to be done to keep it “kept”, you definitely will be busy.
The Oxford online definition of kept is — “retaining possession of something or maintaining a specific state“.
I find when keeping my home in the specific state that I want it to be in… means that my work is never done. I have to schedule in time to stop working. There is not just the house, but the yard, gardens, ect.
I am so grateful that God has given me this time period, land, family, friends, church, and country to live in and with. And that He has given me a home to keep.
But there is more to God asking women to be busy at home. God is very smart that way. Being busy at home keeps you out of the trouble that one day you would have to give an account for—even for every idle word you have spoken.
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36 (KJV)
I’m not looking forward to that one, and I’ve learned to be quieter and say less as I’ve grown older.
My daughter and I were discussing this verse the other day:
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters” 1 Peter 4:15 (KJV)
If you are busy keeping your home, you don’t have time to be a busybody in anyone else’s affairs. That’s how following God’s Word keeps you out of trouble.
I asked my daughter if she thought it interesting that a busybody was ranked right there with a murderer or a thief. She had a great comeback for that. She said no, because they (busybodies) are killing and stealing our time.
I would like to follow other verses that God gives us women to think about…
Like…
“You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” 1 Peter 3:4 (NLT)
And of course I can’t leave this topic without quoting one of my favorite verses that I quote all the time, and I think it is so important to live by.
“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT)
God gives very specific instructions for both men and women in the Bible. If we made it our goal to follow what the Bible says, think of how much better our world would be.
And finally…
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
And have a great week!