Yes, I Was a "Stay-At-Home Daughter." No, I Wasn't Crazy..

Part two in my previous series on being a stay-at-home daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Created for a Purpose (December 15, 2010)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are few things which rile a feminist more than to state that God has designed women to fill a unique role. “Men and women are equal! How can you say that a woman is limited in what she can do with her life? How dare Christians insist that women conform to some outdated standard of living!” What they don't understand is that conforming to God's design for our lives is not confining; it is liberating. When we follow God's plan, we do not have to flounder around looking for purpose in life. God has already assigned us, as His daughters, a part to play and He has given us clear directions on how to live. This frees us from the burden of figuring out how to relate to men and from confusion over how to use our time on this earth. It also opens up to us opportunities to serve in ways that men are not able to. When men and women dedicate themselves to following God's pattern for biblical manhood and biblical womanhood, they compliment each other and thereby make a great impact on the world for Christ.

In Genesis 2:18, woman's first purpose is brought to light, “Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.'” In all of creation, not a single living thing was found appropriate to walk with Adam through life in the garden. He needed someone like him to be his companion and helper. So, why didn't God simply make another man? Because Adam, as a man, lacked something. And God had the perfect solution. He caused a deep sleep to fall over Adam and lovingly created from Adam's side the perfect help-meet, the suitable companion, the finishing touch on creation – woman. Eve's purpose in life was to comfort Adam, to work alongside him throughout life, to be someone with whom Adam could enjoy the wonders of Eden. She was God's gift to man.

Why did God create woman from Adam's rib? Why not his jaw, or his leg, or his toes? The Bible doesn't mention any specific reason for why God chose the rib, but it has been suggested that this indicates woman's role. I've heard it said that perhaps God did not take a bone from Adam's head, because woman is not the head of the family. God did not take a bone from Adam's foot, because man is not to trample on woman. God took a bone from Adam's side, because Eve was to walk beside him, ever near to his heart and under his arm of protection. Although Scripture does not state this as the reason for God forming Eve from Adam's rib, it's an interesting thought to consider.

God saw that creation was incomplete without woman. He knew that Adam would need a suitable helper, and Eve had the great honor of being the perfect answer to Adam's need. Genesis 2:23-24 tells us, “The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.' For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

Ultimately, that is why woman was created. No matter what feminism says, woman's original purpose in life was to bring glory to God by being a blessing to man. Ephesians 5:23-24 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” Not only did God create woman to bless man, but He also created marriage to be a picture of Christ and the church. Just as the wife is to submit to the husband, so the church is to submit to Christ. But the husband is not to lord over the wife. Men are to love their wives just as Christ loves the church. Feminism claims that Christianity wants women to be doormats. On the contrary, when men fulfill their God-given roles, women will be treated with honor and respect, with undying love just as Christ loves each of us. Supporting men is not woman's only role in life, but it is a large part of her calling.

Women are commanded to be submissive, to be hospitable, to love their husband and children, to be keepers at home, to be pure, sensible, and kind – all so that the Word of God will not be blasphemed (Titus 2:3-5). So how does all that apply to us as daughters? The mistake people often make is to assume that we don't have to worry about fulfilling these commands until after we are married. The truth is, you are not going to suddenly wake up one day after your wedding and be the perfect little Susie Homemaker. Cultivating the right attitudes and abilities needed in marriage takes time, prayer and serious consideration. Think about it this way. A teacher spends four years in college learning how to teach. A lawyer spends at least seven years in school preparing to defend the law. A doctor spends eight or more years studying the best ways to care for patients. A Christian woman's role as wife and mother is more important than any earthly career, so doesn't it make sense that we would put just as much effort into preparing for that role as some people put into preparing for careers?

The characteristics these Scriptures describe are characteristics all Christian women should have, not just the married women. Single women are to be concerned with the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:34), and in order to do that they will need to be sensible, pure, kind and submissive to authority. Even single daughters have a God-designed role to play. The years before marriage are not for running around seeking self-centered pleasures. We each have a position to fill in the Kingdom, regardless of our marital status. We must look to God's Word as a guide for what our single years should look like, not the traditions of man or societal norms.

For Him,

Brittany N.