A Wife's Duty
The Bible instructs married women to guide the home with discretion and “give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” There is a standard that must be maintained in order to have a home that would adorn the Gospel of Christ. And there is nothing that will cause a family, as a whole, to grow and develop spiritually more than to have a home managed according to the Word of God, a home where everything that is done is prompted with a spirit of love.
The husband and wife and children can plan their work with consideration for the other, and according to the time they have in which to perform their duties. The family's individual activities can be arranged so as not to conflict with the plans of another member of the household. All things can be done in order. The wife can successfully manage if everything is systematically planned early in the day. A time should be set aside for prayer and reading of the Word, a time that does not interfere with the daily duties one owes to the family.
The Christian housewife keeps her home neat and clean. She keeps her home cheerful and provides for the daily necessities of the family. She “looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” She is not as the women spoken of in the fifth chapter of 1 Timothy, who were idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, “speaking things which they ought not.”
The wife with the love of God in her heart has a love for her family. She performs her duties willingly – not because the husband or any member of the family does something for her. She is devoted to her home and her family. It is a joy to do for them.
The Bible describes the faithful wife and mother as a virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” She truly is a virtuous woman, and 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 her life” (Proverbs 31: 11, 12).