[Forrest]

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

My wife and I, under God’s leading, chose to home educate our children. (I’m glad we did.) By God’s grace all of our children love the Lord and serve Him. They have honored us in spite of our parental shortcomings. One of the big issues in some home education groups is that the “female” should be a “keeper at home” which has various applications among our friends.

Some believe it means no work, no school, or no activity outside the home. Individuals who follow this belief consider a young “unmarried” or “married” woman who works, attends college, or participates in ministry or certain activities outside the home is rebellious and not “submitting” to their God given authority. Keeper at home means keeper at home.

On the other hand, some of our friends allow their daughters to work, attend college, and participate in ministry or certain activities outside the home. (There is of course, counsel and instruction regarding safety issues and the importance of using discretion.) To them, “keepers at home” does not mean staying at home 24/7, sewing, doing craft work, and baking a loaf of bread every other day.

Personally, I'm grateful that my wife has always been able to stay at home, be the primary teacher of our children, and has loved and honored me now for 26 years. I fully realize that this is a very personal choice for each family and we have a Christian obligation to avoid being someone’s Holy Spirit. I am a big advocate of letting God direct people by His Spirit through the written word. And I’ve learned through the years to stop being so judgmental of those who don’t do things the way I do them. By God's goodness, we also learned the importance of letting our children become adults without the constant micro management of what they could and could not do.

I would appreciate your participation on this thread regarding your understanding of the Biblical teaching “keepers at home” and the things you’ve learned raising daughters. I realize this thread, like any, could become carnal, divisive, or mean spirited. Please avoid that. People are different and unless it’s a key doctrinal issue, we should allow each other to have a varying opinion without it turning into a fight.

I would like to expand my understanding of the words “keepers at home” (verse 5) by getting your feedback.

[greenbear]

Brother Forrest,

This passage comes to mind. It seems she runs her own "home based" business. I don't think she has to stay within the confines of her husband's property. She makes a decision to buy land for her family. She sells what she produces. She has a "charitable" ministry to the poor which she administers.

Proverbs 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Proverbs 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Proverbs 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

[Forrest]

Originally Posted by greenbear

Brother Forrest,

This passage comes to mind. It seems she runs her own "home based" business. I don't think she has to stay within the confines of her husband's property. She makes a decision to buy land for her family. She sells what she produces. She has a "charitable" ministry to the poor which she administers.

Proverbs 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Proverbs 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Proverbs 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Greetings, sister. In regards to the words "keepers at home", I was discussing those verses in Proverbs 31 with my wife just last night. I would also add this verse:

Proverbs 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

[greenbear]

I missed that one , brother Forrest.

I realized that I essentially wrote a resume for the virtuous woman. That's kind of ironic. There must be a little "feminist" left in me yet.

Considering that I'm approaching my 400th post in 8 short weeks, I believe I will take heed of this verse:

Proverbs 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

and try to bring my daily average of posts down to a more respectable number. That could take a while.

You are a blessing, brother.

Jen

[Amanda S.]

While I get my thoughts together on this I'd like to share the part of the Scripture that has always been glaring to me -

"...that the word of God be not blasphemed."

So whatever our position I feel we should be careful that we be very thoughtful and prayerful when making this decision as it seems you are.

Hopefully tonight I can offer my 2 cents

[Amanda S.]

Keeper at home means keeper at home.

Well, what does "keeper at home" mean exactly? I've heard different people define what this means.

Oxford defines "keeper" as - 1 a person who manages or looks after something or someone. 3 an object which protects or secures another.

If one is defining "keeper" as a "stayer" then any time she leaves the home she is blaspheming God's Word.

If you are defining "keeper" as a caretaker as the dictionary defines and the KJV Bible appears to define "keeper" then this would allow one to do other things outside the home as long as they "looketh well to the ways of her household".

Consider these verses with the word keeper:

1Sa 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

1Sa 17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

Ge 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

I would find it hard to believe that these people never did anything but keep their post.

With the invention of the phone, tv, internet it is very easy to be a stayer at home but not a keeper at home. One can certainly be a "stayer at home" and be a pretty sorry caretaker.

Having said that though, the more a woman has commited to outside the home the less she is able to be a teacher, to love her husband, and to love her children.

I'd also like to throw this thought in...

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

While she does seem to have a home based business, it also appears that the majority of the outside the home work of peddling her wares is delegated to a merchant.