Mom’s Musings

In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. – Proverbs 14:23

• As a wife and mother, my labour is often repetitious in nature. The laundry needs to be done daily. The house needs to be cleaned. Once again, meals need to be planned and groceries purchased. One considering this work might say that it is boring because it is repetitious.
• Also, my labour is humble in nature. Though it is a “labour of love”(I Thess.1:3), yet it is the work of a servant. My work is not to do primarily what I might be interested in doing, but rather what will be good for my family. Again, one observing this serving work might complain that my talents and interests are not being developed, or that they are being subjugated overmuch to the interests of my family.
• As a wife and mother, my work primarily is private in nature; if it is noticed at all, it is noticed by my dear family, not applauded by the world at large. One might say, “Where is recognition for the doing of this work?” “Where is the positive feedback for a job well done?”

In response to these querulous observations, I would respond:

• Since I have chosen to be a wife and mother, I am doing the work which pertains to this calling. The work is good, for it furthers my calling:
  

  That they may teach the young 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. – Titus 2:4,5

• Since I am doing the work which pertains to my calling, I can have assurance that this work is pleasing to God; it is the work which He has for me to do at this time. I am doing this work by faith.
  

  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

• Yes, the work is repetitious, yet the Lord assures me that “In all labour there is profit. Repetitious work also, if done willingly, cheerfully, lovingly, is work done to God’s glory; it is indeed profitable. This repetitious work is also profitable in that it produces actual good: clean laundry, an orderly house, and wholesome meals, for example.
• Humble work is not to be shunned, for the Apostle Paul tells us:
  

  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty: only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. – Galatians 5:13

  And Christ said, in John 13:13-15:

  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

  Also, in Matthew 23:11, the Lord said,

  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

• Finally, it is certainly no shame that this work is private. Rather, it can protect one from spiritual pride to do good works quietly and unassumingly, as the Lord admonishes in Matthew 6:6:
  

  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 16th, 2005 at 5:44 pm and is filed under Bible Thoughts, Sunday Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.