This post is intended for a girl, or young woman still living at home.The time that the Lord has for you is good. The Lord has placed you in the home that you are in with the family you have for HIS glory and purposes. Living in a christian home with a mother and father is the proper order that He has ordained, and there is blessing when we serve the Lord in that way. And sorry girlfriend, in God’s order for the home, as a teenager, you are not the authority or in charge. God’s order is Man, Woman, Kids. And guess what, your parents are accountable to the Lord for the choices they make for you and how they raise you. They are not responsible for the sinful choices you make, but they are accountable. Heavy stuff huh? When you are punished, and I pray you are, your parents are training you in the Fear of the Lord. You would rather have a spanking or timeout from them than one from the Lord.
In the last few months I have been thinking about the 2 following verses,
Titus 2:5, “to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
1 Corinthians 7:34-35, “And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit,not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.”
I did add the emphasis in those verses, by the way 🙂 But I think it raises a discussion that is not brought up enough. As a single woman your main ministry is serving His church. When you are married, your main ministry is at home. BIG switch. As young woman, you are encouraged to go into the world and be somebody, make a difference and a name for yourself. Going to college, traveling, humanitarian work is all good and important. However, don’t cling solely to those things. Remember your end goal… serve the Lord. As a single woman in the church as a married woman in the home.
If you have a desire to be married someday, or whether or not you desire it now, you might find yourself married in the future. It would do you well to have a love for the home now. Love being there. Love to care for people there. Love to be hospitable, find joy, peace and relaxation there. Love being with the people who the Lord has placed there. Learn to joyfully keep your room clean. Watch your mom prepare meals, every night for at least 4 people. How does she decide, how does she shop, what is important when planning and making meals. Learn how she keeps the home clean and tidy. Help her. Get in the habit for being a joyful helper. Not because she asks you, but because you want to be ready to have your own home someday.Lay the foundation and get the basics under your belt. Then master the other things: picking out meat from the butcher, selecting seasonal and ripe vegetables, how to get stains out of clothes, arranging furniture, folding laundry quickly. Start with something you enjoy doing even if just a little. If you enjoy making cookies make them for friends and family. Serve people in that way. If you like cleaning, do that and hey you could even go help your friend at HER house; put on Christian music and lip gloss and clean together. It sounds goofy, but what a great thing for 2 young woman desiring to be Godly to be doing. Your parents will be honored, God will be honored and you will be cultivating a great skill. If you don’t find joy in anything having to do with the home, pray right now that the Lord would work on your heart and go talk to someone who can provide Godly wisdom and encouragement to you.
Someday you will live on your own. You will have an apartment, house, our dorm room that will be yours. It might be with a husband, it might be with roommates, or by yourself. You will make and have money, freedom, and… responsibilities. Your basic responsibilities will never go away. Knowing how to keep your space, whatever size it is will always be your job. Getting the basics down makes space and room to do things that are more fun. If you meet a man in your much later future you will look for basic skills. Does he have a job? Does he know how to work? Does he love the church? What are his hobbies and interests? Basic skills and indicators that he is ready to be a man and maybe a husband. You better believe that guys are observing girls to. Can they cook? Can they do laundry? Is she well-kept? What does their space (room, apartment, etc) look like? And others. Nonetheless, guys notice. But that isn’t the most important thing.
It honors the Lord when we fulfill our God-given responsibilities and roles. If you get married in your 20s you could be married for over 50 years. If you remain single there will be even MORE opportunities to encourage and be gracious in your home. Learn how to be a good keeper of the home now. You will thank yourself later. Believe me.
