THE ROLES OF WOMEN

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Recently, we concluded our VBS.  Each night, there were two puppet shows.  In order for these shows to come to pass, there were several roles that had to be fulfilled.

1.    The provider of the puppets

2.    The stage constructors

3.    The IT staff

4.    The stage handlers

5.    The writer of the scripts

6.    The puppeteers

7.    The narrator

8.    The VBS director

 

B.   Questions: 

1.    Were all of the roles needed in order for the puppet shows to be successful? 

2.    Were some of the roles more important than others?

3.    Were some of the roles leadership roles and some of the roles follower roles?

4.    When all of the roles were carried out effectively, what transpired?

5.    What would have happened if there had been strife and warfare among those in the different roles?

 

C.   In the church, the subject of “Roles” has become quite controversial. 

1.    The roles of the evangelist versus the roles of the elders

2.    The roles of the elders and the roles of deacons

3.    The roles of men and the roles of women

 

D.   The problem comes when a role dedicated to one group is desired by another. 

1.    Preachers usurping authority over elders

2.    Deacons trying to oversee the church like elders

3.    Women desiring to have the roles of men

 

E.   The best way to handle these problems is to teach what the Bible has to say about the roles of each group.  Sadly, this does not always work, and it is the reason the Bible has to issue prohibitions (Ex., 1 Cor. 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-15).

 

F.    In this lesson, we want to examine “The Roles of Women.”  Notice, the word “roles” is plural.  They have more than one role they are supposed to serve in the body of Christ.

 

I.             THE ROLE OF FAITHFUL MEMBERS

 

A.   Everyone is so wrapped up in leadership positions that we often forget that our first role in the body of Christ is to be faithful.  This includes both men and women.

 

B.   We repeat these verses often in lessons:

1.    Revelation 2:10

 

…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

2.    1 Corinthians 4:2

 

Moreover it is required in steward, that a man be found faithful.

C.   QUESTION:  Do we understand what faithfulness really means?

1.    Is it a lifestyle that is determined by God’s Word or by our personal feelings?

2.    Is it a lifestyle that includes the fellowship of the church?  Or, it does it simply individual participation?

3.    Is it a lifestyle that involves labor?  Or, does it involve only a state of mind.

4.    Is it a lifestyle that requires my all?  Or, it is just a part-time position?

5.    Is it a lifestyle that centers on commitment?  Or, it is just an off-and-on hobby?

 

D.   The word “all” found in Mark 12:30 answers our questions.

 

And thou shalt love the Lord by God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy min, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.

 

E.   If a person is seeking to be faithful to God, he can find plenty to do without ever being concerned about a “leadership” position.  In fact, if he is being faithful, positions involving leadership will come to the individual.

 

II.           THE ROLE OF KEEPER OF THE HOME

 

A.   Titus 2:5

 

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home…

 

1.    Strong (3626):  (a guard; be “ware”); a stayer at home, that is domestically inclined (a “good housekeeper)

2.    Thayer:  caring for the house, working at home, the (watch or) keeper of the house, keeping at home and taking care of household affairs

 

B.   When we hear the word “keeper at home,” a picture is presented to us of a woman who washes dishes, vacuums the house, dusts, makes the beds, cooks, and takes care of the kids 24/7.

 

C.   The word involves some of those things, but the picture is that of a woman standing at the door as a guard of the household matters.

1.    The food, the clothes, the furniture, and the floors are secondary matters.

2.    Her primary concerns are twofold:

a.    Her husband

b.    Her children

c.    1 Timothy 5:14

 

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house…

 

D.   We act like this role is a role of equivalent to being a slave.  The truth is that it is a leadership role of great importance.

1.    Happiness is at stake.

2.    Peace is at stake.

3.    Souls are at stake.

4.    Pleasing God is at stake.

5.    Heaven is at stake.

6.    Society is at stake.

7.    The church is at stake.

 

E.   Scholarship demeans it.  God says:  “It is important.”

Government defies it.  God says:  “It is important.”

Feminism detests it.  God says:  “It is important.”

Satan defiles it.  God says:  “It is important.”

 

F.    The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 stands out like the noon-day sun, like a full-moon on a clear night, and like the Statue of Liberty in the Upper New York Bay.

1.    “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (v. 27).

2.    “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (v.38).

3.    “Who can find a virtuous woman?  for her price is far above rubies” (v. 10).

 

III.         THE ROLE OF A TEACHER

 

A.   We seem to discount the role of a teacher.  The Bible does not (Jam. 3:1).

 

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

 

1.    The teacher is responsible for his message.

2.    The teacher is responsible for his delivery.

3.    The teacher is responsible for how he lives his message.

 

B.   NOTE:  The role of a teacher is a “leadership” position.  Others, disciples, are sitting at your feet to hear your words.

 

C.   There are three groups of people that a woman can teach.

1.    She is supposed to teach her children.

a.    Verses:

1)    Proverbs 1:8

 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

 

2)    Proverbs 6:20

 

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

 

b.    How would you, as a mother, respond, if God said to you:  “Tell me about how you are teaching your children at home.”

1)    Devotionals

2)    Serious study of books of the Bible

3)    Memorization of Scripture

4)    Discussions of God’s Word

5)    Hands-on application

6)    Visiting various places that instill knowledge

7)    Mission trips

2.    She can teach other women.

a.    Paul specifically tells the older women to fulfill this task (Tit. 2:2-4)

 

The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

 

b.    NOTE:  This is not done very much in churches today. 

1)    It is interesting that women want to be deacons and elders.

2)    But, they do not want to be teachers.

3)    Why?  A one-word answer is:  “Power.”

3.    She can teach those who are lost.

a.    Mark 16:15

 

…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

b.    Children, husbands, family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, group members, etc.

c.    Verses, tracts, CDs, websites, personal studies

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We have looked at three roles of women in this lesson.

1.    The role of faithfulness

2.    The role of a keeper of the home.

3.    The role of a teacher

 

B.   Closing thoughts:

1.    This is enough to keep anyone busy for life.

2.    These are leadership positions.

3.    The woman who faithfully and steadfastly fill these roles will be well-pleasing to her heavenly Father.