As society changes, so do the roles and responsibilities for women.
A few years ago
When our mothers were young, the pinnacle of success for most women was to marry, raise healthy, productive children and support a husband in his work as provider for the family. In the Truth, women strove to raise spiritual children and encourage their husbands in the service of the Lord.
Of course, there were always the exceptions. Some sisters chose to remain single to pursue a more active life in the Truth after the pattern of Anna (Luke 2:36,37). They can be said to have met the higher criteria set out in I Cor. 7:32,38-40, seeking to have more time to please the Lord without the obligation of having a husband to please. As a means of financial support, they used their talents in a profession of their choosing.
Things have changed
The problem that now exists in society is that the pendulum has swung from full-time motherhood being the pinnacle of success to outside careers combined with motherhood being considered the ultimate in bringing respect and fulfillment.
What must be remembered is that, although society changes, God’s word does not. Whatever profession we choose, we are to do it as unto the Lord and with all our might (Ecc. 9:10; Col. 3:17,23,24). If we choose the profession of motherhood, we are to do it with all our heart, soul and mind. It cannot be a part-time job and be done well. For those mothers who do not have a husband and must work to support themselves, surely they will be strengthened for full-time motherhood takes every last hour of the day.
Motherhood a challenging job
Whole books can be written on the importance of the responsibilities of a wife and mother. It is a shame that colleges do not offer degrees in this field. It is a sad reflection on the priorities of this world to realize that no more preparation is required to obtain a marriage certificate than two sometimes mumbled words, “I do.” Yet obtaining a teaching certificate or medical license requires years of higher education and many comprehensive exams.
Having been on both sides of the fence, working in a full-time profession and being a full-time mother, I speak from experience. It has taken more time, creativity, mental and physical energy trying to be a first-class wife and mother than it ever took to receive superior ratings on my evaluations as a teacher and respiratory therapist. If one were to choose which profession was most difficult, there would be no hesitation in my answer – full-time motherhood.
Where are the plaudits?
Yet what encouragement does a mother get and how is she made to feel a success? The benefits of full-time motherhood are often long-term and gratification is delayed. We depend on our husbands and fellow colleagues in the field of motherhood to reward us. Without promotions, job incentives, favorable formal reviews or a paycheck, we need such support. Words of encouragement, acts of kindness, sharing of experiences and brainstorming are essential to stimulate our creativity and strengthen us physically and mentally. We know our Heavenly Father promises us blessings (Prov. 31:26-30). But it is often through the words and actions of others that these blessings are received (I Thes. 5:11; Heb. 10:24; 13:6).
The reward of good children
Our reward is sure if we are faithful, and we must not be confused by the uncertainty of the world. There has been a tendency of late to explain why good parents produce bad children. As full-time mothers, it is our responsibility to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).
If we fail, we cannot blame our failure on others. Attempts to do this have resulted from recent efforts to interpret Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Does this verse mean train up a child according to their natural talents? Such talents come from genetic predisposition. To use these as the guide for training a child leaves God out of the picture unless the disposition just happens to be spiritual in its orientation. But this is not the scriptural emphasis. We are as responsible for training up our children in spiritual things as was Abraham and Israel (Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:4-7). The blessings for keeping God’s commands regarding diligently teaching our children are clear (Deut. 28:1,2,4,9-11). The curses are just as succinct (Deut. 28:32).
Every child can be saved
God is not capricious. We have heard some explain that rebellious children cannot be avoided; they are not called by God and there is nothing we can do about it. Surely God’s dealings with His people throughout the ages prove He desires all men to be saved (I Tim. 2:4), especially when He is working with those in the household of faith (Deut. 11:18-21; I Cor. 7:14).
If we follow after righteousness and mercy, we will find life (Prov. 21:21). If we give diligence to make our calling and election sure, we shall never fail (II Peter. 1:10). So each individual who knows the Truth has a personal choice in the matter as to whether or not he will be saved.
We can do the job
Our children are the product of the profession of motherhood in the Truth. God does not give us work without assurance of potential reward (Psa. 34:15-22; Matt. 5:3,5; 10:22; 24:13; I Pet. 1:8,9;5:2-4). We are not asked to do the impossible. If we give it our all and strive to be the best mothers we can be, serving God with all our might, then God will fill in the missing ingredients (II Cor. 12:9,10). We are not all wise, but God promises to bless the work of our hands; put in other words, we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us (Psa. 90:16,17; Phil. 4:13).
God does not want us to fail. He has planned a special future for His people, a future of hope and not evil, a future with an expected and wonderful end (Jer. 29:11).
Let us, therefore, encourage one another in our chosen profession.
We know that motherhood is a challenging career. Let us not take our job lightly. Children are a heritage of the Lord, a gift from God. They are on loan to us only for a time, after which we are to give them back to Him prepared for service in His vineyard. It is a profession with a divine promise which is so much more than worldly professions have to offer. “The fruit of the womb is God’s reward…For thou shalt see the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee…The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion…Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel” (Psa. 127:3; 128:2,5,6).
In whatever way we choose to serve God, let us do it with the same conviction and enthusiasm we put into motherhood. Whatever we do, let us do it with all our might, full-time, as unto the Lord, for we know assuredly that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One