“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.” 1 Timothy 2:11
I think “quietly” and “with all submissivenss” have huge implications that I hope to think through and blog about later. But, for this blog, I want to dwell on one word of this verse…LEARN!
I’ve been having conversations with a few other truth-seeking women recently about the lack of drive to learn theology many women have. I’ve noted a couple reasons for this: 1. We tend to get so caught up in taking care of our families that we don’t make the time to learn. 2. We tend to use the fact that the husband is the spirtual leader as an excuse not to challenge ourselves. 3. We don’t see a spot for ourselves in ministry and so we don’t take the time to prepare ourselves for service.
When women think and behave like this, we are missing out on some huge blessings:
1. The woman who gets TOO caught up with housework and children to take time to learn is doing a disservice to her family. Proverbs 31 describes a woman who is devoted to caring for her family, but it also says that, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindess is on her tongue.” Yes, this woman spends her time caring for her family, but, more importantly, this woman fears the Lord. It is when we study and understand the character and promises of God that we are able to trust Him with our futures and laugh at the time to come. It is when we study scripture and cling to the word of God that we will be able to serve others with words of wisdom and kindness. When we focus too much on simple “chores” and not on meditating on the glories of God, we are are less able to trust God and serve others as we should.
2. Women who use the excuse that their husbands are responsible for their spirtitual health are also missing out. Yes it is true that we need to learn in submission to our husbands and yes it is true that they should be leading us. But, that does not give us an excuse to be lazy. When a woman hides behind the excuse of her husband’s lack of leadership, she misses out on knowing God! She is only hurting herself.
3. Often times, women don’t see ministry oportunities for themselves because they are not allowed to be in positions of leadership over men. I think a lot of women have the mindset that the only spot the church has for them is planning cheesy mother’s day tea parties. Because of this lack of outlet, women often get bored with their faith and stop challenging themselves to know God. (After all, it doesn’t take a lot of Biblical knowledge to decide what color table cloth looks best with the dishes.)
However, there are many opportunities that these women are just missing out on. Women have special gifts that we need to add to the body of Christ! God created women with creative, nurturing spirits that are vital in ministry to the needy, to children, to their fellow women, etc. We need to make sure we are challenging ourselves to know the truth so that we can offer our best service.
Overall, this is an exhortation to women to challenge ourselves. It’s my prayer that the Lord would give women a desire to know Him and to serve others to the best of our abilities. I pray that God would cause women to recognize the joy that they are missing out on when they stop seeking Him. And I thank God for womanhood and the way that He designed us to know him and serve Him in our own unique way.
I would also recommend Christa Taylor’s most recent blog on this topic. http://www.empoweredtraditionalist.com/2008/11/06/are-you-a-weak-woman/
I’m glad you are my wife.
Also, a biblically competent wife will help her husband become more biblically competent himself, because a biblically competent wife is able to talk about the deep things of God with him. She will be able to contribute things that her husband might not see simply because he isn’t a woman.
Hey Emily, thanks for the challenge. It made me feel optimistic, though the past couple of months I’ve felt really inadequate, but now I feel like I can move (physically and spiritually) since James has been born.
Thanks for the challenge
I’ve meant to say something on this topic and haven’t done it yet! I was recently at a conference where the speaker said something I will never forget, in reference to women and this constant struggle – she said “we live in a world with big questions that need bigger answers than what to make for dinner tonight!”
I really appreciated her point – she is rad. she also does exactly what I would love to do (which makes me like her all the more!)
But she ultimately made the point that you do, that we as women tend to put the and laundry and kids to a higher priority than God and his ultimate plan for our lives – which we only know when we seek him.
To that end, we need encouragers, we need examples, and we need people willing to say “hey” when we aren’t on the right track…
Thanks Emily :0) keep on walking – NEVER GIVE UP!
Sorry for the typos!