A Biblical view of homemaking taken from the Bible along with quotes from some of my favorite homemaking authors.
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Sally Clarkson is one of my favorite authors. I love this insightful quote of hers about biblical conviction:
Christians must know and understand the foundations of Scripture in order to make biblical choices for their lives. If they follow the values of the world instead, they will die for lack of instruction and stray from the blessing of living by God’s truth. In the absence of biblical convictions, people will go the way of culture.
Sally Clarkson
We must have biblical convictions about why we do what we do. I think this especially applies to homemaking.
A Biblical View of Homemaking
Without knowing what the Bible actually says about it, we can start to think of it as a burden rather than the blessing it was actually meant to be.
Homemaking is so much more than just doing laundry, making meals, and decorating!
It’s really all about creating a place where family and friends can encounter truth, goodness, beauty, and a sense of belonging. It’s about showing the love of Christ to all who enter our doors.
The main Scripture passage I think of regarding homemaking is found in Titus 2:
Train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Titus 2:4-5
Working at Home
Titus 2:5 tells Christian women to be “workers at home.” Some versions translate this phrase as “keepers at home,” “busy at home,” or “homemakers.”
According to Strong’s concordance, the Greek word used here is oikourgos, which means “a keeper-at-home,” or “a housekeeper.”
Put simply, the verses in Titus imply that married women are to be keeping house and making sure things run smoothly there (whether they work outside the home or not).
So what does God’s Word have to say to wives and mothers about working at home? First, the obvious conclusion we can draw from the Titus 2 command–to be ‘working at home’–is that the principal place of work for wives and mothers is at home. ‘Working at home’ means we are to function as the home manager–taking full ownership for all the domestic duties of the household.
Carolyn Mahaney
Even though we take full ownership of all the domestic duties, that doesn’t mean that we do all the work ourselves!
It’s perfectly acceptable (and needful) to have other family members working together to keep the home running smoothly.
And it’s totally fine to get outside help if you need it and can afford it (as Proverbs 31 implies that this woman also had “maidservants” or helpers). I think the main thing is just that we’re putting thought into planning and executing our homemaking duties.
No Time for Idleness
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:27
Not long ago, I looked at my long to-do list and realized the impossibility of getting everything crossed off. I said to my husband in frustration, “Homemaking is really a full-time job if you want to do it right!”
I decided to prioritize what was most important on my list, and then ignore the rest for now. Many of the projects I had listed weren’t time-sensitive and they could wait.
However, I’ve realized that I don’t have time to waste (although I do think it’s important to take time to rejuvenate yourself as a homemaker).
Related: How to Avoid Burnout
Encouragement
Homemaking is such an important job. It’s not easy, but it’s so worth it.
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.
Proverbs 24:3-4
And it’s not only for married women!
Whether you are single or married, young or old, painting the reality of God onto the walls of your home will be one of the great works of your life. People long for holy shelter: a safe place of comfort that values and preserves all that is good and offers solace from all the pain life’s issues can bring.
Sally Clarkson
Isn’t that a beautiful picture of what we do as homemakers?
“Painting the reality of God onto the walls” of our homes lifts up the higher purpose for all that we do.
All of the work of homemaking is so worthwhile and beautiful when you look at it from an eternal perspective.
When we take a biblical view of homemaking, it changes the way we think and feel about it, and that can make all the difference in the way we approach our lives as homemakers.
Hello! I came across your post today as I have been seeking Biblical Truth of what it means to be a homemaker, and what it is that the Lord has called young women to do. I am currently a sophomore in college. I had plans to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing; however, I have always believed I would be a homemaker once I was married. Although a nursing carrier is something I have desired to have while in the “waiting” period, I began the pray and think about all the different ways I could be preparing myself to one day, Lord willing, fill the position of being a wife and homemaker. I began to pray for discernment as I have often thought, “Is homemaking only for those who are married, or is it a calling the Lord has ordained for the married and the single?” There are many ways I believe even a single woman can be productive in preparing to be a homemaker without completing a four-year degree; however, that is not typically encouraged in today’s society. I was greatly encouraged to see your read your comment, as well as the given quote, about homemaking not just being for married women. I was curious, would there be any other Biblical references or examples in which you would give to further encourage or support this?
Hi Brianna! I’m so glad it was encouraging. I’m not aware of any Biblical references that address that specifically. My aunt is a retired nurse, and she’s also one of the most amazing homemakers I’ve ever met. Her home is so warm and welcoming, and she’s such a nurturing person, always serving others. She was able to work as a nurse while also excelling in homemaking. I also have several mom friends with nursing degrees who decided to stay home with their kids and be full-time homemakers after they became moms. I think it depends on the Lord’s call to each individual person. Some are called to be full-time homemakers, some to missions, some to a vocation, etc. But it is possible to be learning and growing in homemaking skills even during college days or if you work outside the home. Before becoming a mom, I used to spend my lunch breaks reading homemaking and motherhood books. I learned so much during that time! I would have loved to be a full-time homemaker from the very beginning (just because I love it so much), but it wasn’t an option for me at that time financially.
Good afternoon, I just recently encountered your site via a post from Pinterest. I just wanna say, I have been a stay at home wife/and Mom for almost 12yrs, and have been so frustrated about it, always thinking I needed to be out working, versus being at home. Only recently that God has wanted me to be at home for almost 24yrs. Anyhow, I greatly thank you for all that’s here on your blog, I hadn’t ever considered my roles as what you have explained here. Thank you, prayers and blessings to you.
Thank you so much for this lesson. That verse is so beautiful . My girls are all grown up and have their own families now and it is just me and Honey . But taking pleasure of keeping my home is what I need to focus on .I am so thankful that I came across your page . God bless you .
What an blessing to be a homemaker! I wish I had realized what a place of honor it was when my children were little. They're all grown and away at Bible college now but if I could turn back the clock. Well, i can't but I'm thankful for posts like these that will encourage other ladies to hold in high regard the office God has placed them in. Thanks for the nice read.
Hello! I came across your post today as I have been seeking Biblical Truth of what it means to be a homemaker, and what it is that the Lord has called young women to do. I am currently a sophomore in college. I had plans to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing; however, I have always believed I would be a homemaker once I was married. Although a nursing carrier is something I have desired to have while in the “waiting” period, I began the pray and think about all the different ways I could be preparing myself to one day, Lord willing, fill the position of being a wife and homemaker. I began to pray for discernment as I have often thought, “Is homemaking only for those who are married, or is it a calling the Lord has ordained for the married and the single?” There are many ways I believe even a single woman can be productive in preparing to be a homemaker without completing a four-year degree; however, that is not typically encouraged in today’s society. I was greatly encouraged to see your read your comment, as well as the given quote, about homemaking not just being for married women. I was curious, would there be any other Biblical references or examples in which you would give to further encourage or support this?
Hi Brianna! I’m so glad it was encouraging. I’m not aware of any Biblical references that address that specifically. My aunt is a retired nurse, and she’s also one of the most amazing homemakers I’ve ever met. Her home is so warm and welcoming, and she’s such a nurturing person, always serving others. She was able to work as a nurse while also excelling in homemaking. I also have several mom friends with nursing degrees who decided to stay home with their kids and be full-time homemakers after they became moms. I think it depends on the Lord’s call to each individual person. Some are called to be full-time homemakers, some to missions, some to a vocation, etc. But it is possible to be learning and growing in homemaking skills even during college days or if you work outside the home. Before becoming a mom, I used to spend my lunch breaks reading homemaking and motherhood books. I learned so much during that time! I would have loved to be a full-time homemaker from the very beginning (just because I love it so much), but it wasn’t an option for me at that time financially.
Good afternoon, I just recently encountered your site via a post from Pinterest. I just wanna say, I have been a stay at home wife/and Mom for almost 12yrs, and have been so frustrated about it, always thinking I needed to be out working, versus being at home. Only recently that God has wanted me to be at home for almost 24yrs. Anyhow, I greatly thank you for all that’s here on your blog, I hadn’t ever considered my roles as what you have explained here. Thank you, prayers and blessings to you.
So glad it was encouraging, Eva!
Thank you so much for this lesson. That verse is so beautiful . My girls are all grown up and have their own families now and it is just me and Honey . But taking pleasure of keeping my home is what I need to focus on .I am so thankful that I came across your page . God bless you .
I’m so glad you stopped by, Cindy!
What an blessing to be a homemaker! I wish I had realized what a place of honor it was when my children were little. They're all grown and away at Bible college now but if I could turn back the clock. Well, i can't but I'm thankful for posts like these that will encourage other ladies to hold in high regard the office God has placed them in. Thanks for the nice read.
Thanks so much for reading, Tori, and for taking the time to leave an encouraging comment! Many blessings to you today! ♥