Guiding The House

A: 1 Timothy 5:14   “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

The word guide is used in this same way in the following verse also:

 

Proverbs 23:19 “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.”

 

Women are instructed to lead or direct or take care of the affairs relating to the household.  Just as we are told in Proverbs 23:19 to direct or lead our heart in the way or the way that is right when we read this verse in context.  The Jewish women would probably have understood this very well.  They were in charge of their household and any servants .  Read about the woman in Proverbs 31 and you will gain a better understanding of just how much work this woman did.  She did not have time to waste.  This is not to say that she did not have to listen to her husband or be in submission to him.  The husband commanded and lead the business affairs outside the home.  The wife guided or took the lead in all those things related to the smooth operation of the home.  The husband provided for her and the household and she managed the household.  The modern day wife still is commanded to guide, lead or direct the operations of her household so that the family can run smoothly.  By guiding the household she assists her husband and makes it possible for him to accomplish all that he needs to do.  There is plenty of real worthwhile work to be done in running the home and rearing children who will love God and serve Him all their days.  It is a full time twenty-four seven job that will not bring in big paychecks to put in a bank somewhere but the rewards will be of a far richer sort.