Wherever you are, I hope you are doing well in the Lord; seeking Him while He may be found and watching prepared like the five wise virgins.
Today I am writing the last post on the Titus 2 woman. You can see my three previous posts here. I will cover the areas which remain. These things are what the older women are to be teaching the younger women.
"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 2:4-5
I haven't covered these yet...
to love their children
keepers at home
obedient to their own husbands
Whether we women are married or not we need to know what the Word teaches in everything. No I can't speak from experience in all of this but just share some thoughts on it all.
We generally know what love means. And the married woman is to have that for her own husband and children. But it is not always feelings but actions of love. And not just when you feel like loving but all of the time.
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."1 John 3:18
But what does "obedient" mean? It says she is to be obedient to her own husband.
It's the same word as used here about Jesus with His parents.
"And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."
Luke 2:51
And in other places than Titus 2, we see the exact same command for wives to submit to/obey/be subject to their own husbands.
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:22-24
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;"1 Peter 3:1
And in the gathering of believers women are to be silent and are under the authority of men. They do not speak up in the gathering of believers but ask their husbands at home.
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."1 Corinthians 14:34-35
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."1 Corinthians 11:3
Through feminism, the way of truth, God's name, and doctrines are being blasphemed and evil spoken of. We see mass destruction from it. But may it not be so among God's daughters.
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."Proverbs 12:4
A note for any young single ladies reading this.
I'm going to share some thoughts on marriage for you that I have. As a single sister myself, heading on towards 28, I have learnt over many years, how to view this subject. I will try to explain it a little...maybe it will help or encourage you.
When I was not so discerning or biblical I used to read some Christian women's blogs and magazines. (You can see a post I did here on what I think on that now.) But I bring that up because it is or seems to be that marriage is a big subject for young ladies and so I want to share some on it.
First, yes this is true. God had created a wonderful world and universe and called it all very good. But He had made a man and said it was not good that he was alone, so God made the man a woman...and then it was good.
"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."Genesis 2:18
So that is what God put in to being and created that order of the woman to be a helper to the man. We are still to have that order, but we see it reversed today, perhaps even to the point of the man being the helper. That's sad but anyway.
And we know it is good for young women to marry and bear children. We see that in many places in scripture. But how should we single women handle it and view it?
Over the years I have thought about it a lot myself. Not "over the top" a lot, but I think it is normal to think some about it. But now as I have grown in the Lord and matured as I became a bit more of an "older young woman" I have left behind thoughts that I once had. What I mean is that it can grow out of proportion in the minds of young ladies...like I would say it did at times for me. I believe we should work on getting our lives right and making sure we are obeying the gospel and living to please the Lord first above all else. That should be our daily focus. So when that is your focus then you get to the point where your will becomes God's will, if that makes sense, and you are good with and rejoice with what He allows and has for you. If I'm to be single for years longer or for always then that's good and I rejoice! If it's His will for me to ever be married then that's great too and I'd give it everything because it's the perfect will of the Father.
But also you don't suddenly think of how you would behave or what position God would have you in a marriage. So yes you have to be ready for anything. Know the Word, what it teaches for wives. Know that you will submit to and obey your own husband in all things (except sin). Speaking of which, I have seen many women who call themselves believers say to just do whatever your husband says or likes (in things that are not biblical, which means to sin). That is taking that command to submit and obey too far and above God. Doesn't 1 Peter 3 say win a disobedient husband without a word with your obedient meek and quiet life? It doesn't say go along in sin.
But what I am saying is that you shouldn't let your thoughts go into covetousness or into longing inordinately for things that God hasn't given you.
Bearing in mind what Paul said also.
"There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband."1 Corinthians 7:34
So you have to have a balanced view on that.
If you are a godly obedient young woman then you won't want to compromise on anything...even if that means you remain single the rest of your life. Obviously a believer does not marry an unbeliever nor a sinful believer. And I share this verse.
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"Mark 8:36
What will it profit you if you have the "best" husband and children (out of God's will) and lose your own soul? Ponder that. Yes all the worldly young people are finding spouses easy and maybe all the religious church people too. And we know there are very few holy men and women left on this earth. But do you truly have enough faith in God? He knows where you are, alone, and if He wanted to change your status He would.
What I am saying is we don't want to compromise on sin for the sake of marriage. That is idolatry I would think. Christ is your heavenly Bridegroom and you live to please Him first. I'm just sharing my thoughts from my perspective as a single woman.
Pray about your future...but leave it with the Father and live holy and obedient one day at a time. All our hopes and joy must be in Him. We don't get our worth from whether we are married or not. Yes marriage and child-raising are wonderful godly things, being single and able to focus on the Lord more is also wonderful. It all just depends on what the Lord's will is for you. I have learned to say, "Not my will but Thine be done". And I don't think about it much anymore.
And we can take in Paul's advise on this.
"Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you."1 Corinthians 7:27-28
So that's some of my thoughts on that...let your will be lost in God's will and be joyous in whatever that is!
Moving on to a little on "keeper at home"...
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens."Proverbs 31:10-15
A godly woman will also be a "keeper at home". What does that mean?
"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."Proverbs 14:1
We don't want to be like this woman...
"She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:"
Proverbs 7:11
Oh no, we want to be quiet and submissive and with our feet abiding in our homes.
Yes Paul says this after warning about young widows causing destruction by going from house to house being idle gossips...
"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."1 Timothy 5:14
Go in peace and love,
...from a daughter of the Lord
See the gospel of Jesus Christ here.