THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 6, MARCH 9, 2003

THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP

(PART 6)

            An aspect of the marriage relationship that is dealt with extensively in God’s Word, and yet is receiving less and less attention today, is the realm in which the woman in the marriage is primarily to function.  While I do not believe that the Bible prohibits a wife from working outside of the home, unless her doing so causes her to neglect her primary responsibilities, it is vital to understand and to believe and appreciate that her primary area of God-given responsibility in the marriage is in the home.  

            In Titus 2:4-5, Paul wrote, “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.”  Again, from 1 Timothy 5:14, we find, “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”  Notice the phrases, “keepers at home” and “guide the house”.  God places the primary responsibility for earning the income the family needs upon the shoulders of the man and He places the primary responsibility for the care of the home upon the shoulders of the woman.  They have different functions, but each is vitally important.  

            There are so many today who believe that God’s way does not allow a woman to utilize all of the abilities that He has given to her.  Many argue that this makes a woman little more than a domestic servant and does not permit her to have meaning and purpose in her life.  Many speak of having to “have a career”, not realizing that the role God has given to the woman in marriage is the most noble of “careers”.   

            Let us take the time to look at Proverbs 31:10-31, the epitome of the woman who is a keeper of the home and one who guides the house.  Has any CEO ever been praised in such a way by God?  

            “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 he 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.  She considereeth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her mechandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”  

            There is not much I can add to that great tribute.  The godly woman in the marriage relationship gives herself wholeheartedly to the task of caring for her home.  It has been said that the man has the responsibility to provide for the things of the home, and the woman has the responsibility to make a home out of whatever he is able to provide.  She is not ashamed of the work that she does for it is the work that God would have her to do and it is a work of utmost importance.  She is industrious and makes her home a welcome place for her husband, a place that he wants to come home to.  She looks well to her household, and she does not have the time to partake of idleness.  

            Next week, if the Lord wills, “when the children come”.

                                                                        Greg Litmer

IT REALLY DOES MATTER  

            If you happen to have listened to the radio program lately, you know that the subject of Premillennialism has come up.  With Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late, Great Planet Earth, and the “Left Behind” series of novels, this is the most popular view of the “End Times” among the denominations.  There is even a small segment of brethren who hold to this view.

            It is not a harmless doctrine.  Premillennialism, which says that Jesus will return to earth to establish a literal, physical kingdom in Jerusalem , dethrones my Lord.  It says that Jesus is not king now.  It teaches that He came to set up His kingdom but could not because the Jews rejected Him and crucified Him.  It teaches that the church, which Paul tells us was part of the “eternal purpose” of God (Eph. 3:10-11), and that was purchased with the blood of God (Acts 20:28), is nothing more than a “stop-gap” measure that was put into effect because of the failure of Jesus to do what He intended to do the first time.  We will deal with this doctrine on the air and give no quarter.  It is blasphemous.

                                                            Greg Litmer