by Elisha Ann Wahlquist ~ 11/30/06
Home-service. So often, as we serve day in, day out, it can become a necessary bit of drudgery-something that we do because we have to, but not something we enjoy or seek out. Not only this, but the world mocks those women who stay at home to take care of their households. "How meaningless!" cry some. "What a waste of talent, brains, and potential!"
We know that our flesh does not always enjoy or delight in the simple, quiet, everyday service that is called for in our homes. "I'm not cut out for housework," we may say. "There's nothing wrong with not loving it." True-in a way. It may not be an absolute sin for us to not enjoy working at home-changing diapers, getting a cup of water for a toddler for the umpteenth time, scrubbing bathrooms, washing laundry-but what should be our attitude?
Since God has created us to be "keepers at home," we will hopefully spend the majority of our lives doing just that. Now, would we like to spend the rest of our lives mired in drudgery, wishing we were doing something else? No! We must "catch the vision" and understand God's plan behind these "menial" tasks. We can actually spend our days delighting in our home-service!
There is a very interesting passage in First Timothy that applies to this subject:
"But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve… Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." (1 Tim. 2:12, 13, 15)
In these verses, Paul explains that he does not allow women to teach men. This deprives them of that direct power of influence, but he explains that women would be saved ("be made whole" is an alternate translation)[1] by the indirect influence they would have through their children. What an exciting thing! The simple, thankless tasks of rearing children can turn into an amazing field of influence. It is not a waste of our talents or potential to take care of our households-it is a glorious sphere of profound influence upon the world! The following quote from G.K. Chesterton explains how home-making is a high art that is in no way demeaning or degrading, but is rather challenging and stimulating:
"If drudgery only means dreadfully hard work, I admit the woman drudges in the home, as a man might drudge at the Cathedral of Amiens or drudge behind a gun at Trafalgar. But if it means that the hard work is more heavy because it is trifling, colorless, and of small import to the soul, then, as I say, I give up: I do not know what the word means. To be Queen Elizabeth within a definite area-deciding sales, banquets, labours, and holidays; to be Whiteley within a certain area-providing toys, boots, sheets, cakes, and books; to be Aristotle within a certain area-teaching morals, manners, theology, and hygiene: I can understand how this might exhaust the mind, but I cannot imagine how it could narrow it." -from What's Wrong with the World
We should turn continually to God, asking Him to give us a delight in home-service, because Satan will do all he can to cause us to become weary in well doing. Despite our best human intentions, there will be days when our emotions will not feel like rejoicing in our tasks. When that happens, we need to pause and seek our Father in Heaven, asking Him to strengthen us and help us to delight in service. He desires to help us and prove Himself strong on our behalf!
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. …But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29, 31)
Another thing that will help us to delight in service to others is if we remember we are actually doing it for Christ, and He will reward us for it.[2] Matthew 25:40 says:
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."
We were not one of those who had the privilege to walk and talk with Jesus when He was here on earth, but He has given us a means to minister to Him by giving us people all around who have needs. King David confirms this when he says:
"O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." (Ps. 16:2-3)
Keeping the house clean and orderly for our family by regular scrubbing; working hard to prepare healthy, appetizing meals; and doing countless loads of laundry are ways that we can bless those around us, and it gives real meaning to that "drudgery" to realize that we are actually doing it for Christ! Any one of us would jump at the chance to cook a meal, wash clothes, or clean a house for Christ-do we really realize that that is what we are doing every day? How are we doing those things for Him? Halfheartedly-or with delight?
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Col. 3:23-24)
So the next time we are faced with a gigantic pile of laundry, or the prospect of having to scrub the floorboards, and we are tempted to groan about it, let's stop, ask God to help us rejoice in it, remind ourselves that we are doing it for Christ-and tackle it with delight, in Christ's strength!
Footnotes:
[1] "Saved" is the Greek word "sozo," which means "to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):--heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole."
[2] "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." (Mark 9:41)
