A House is Not a Home
Back in the sixties, Burt Bacharach wrote a song called, “A House is Not a Home”. The lyrics describe a house without people in it, a house empty of relationship. Today many houses are not homes that enjoy the presence of wise women building them.
We see in the Book of Genesis, that Satan declared war on what God called good in Genesis 1:31. He tempted Eve to doubt the goodness and love of her Creator. She reached for what was forbidden and sin entered the world. Eve was deceived and instead of believing in the awesome plan that God had for her life, she fell for the lie. The crux of Satan’s lie will always be that God is not good and either is His plan. Satan says there is something better.
What are the lies in the culture today that come against a woman being a lifegiver and home builder? There are many, but let’s look at five that have served Satan well.
- Gender Neutrality. There are no differences between men and women.
- Equality. To be equal, men and women must be the same.
- A Career. The home is not a place worthy of our best labors.
- Children. They are not a blessing, but a hindrance. Abortion offers an easy out.
- Two Incomes. A higher standard of living is more important than the family.
God sent His Son, Jesus to defeat these lies and to give us the abundant life. His design for women to be lifegivers and homebuilders glorifies Him in ways that His roles for men never could. When we walk outside of His beautiful design, we are being robbed and cheated of all that God has for us as women.
Instead of embracing our role in the home, Satan has us chasing after the things of the world that leave us tired and disappointed. I am one of those women who fell for the lie before I came to Christ. The lie ended two marriages and the struggle of living life as a single mom took me down the thief’s path – first to steal, then kill and finally destroy. I am so thankful that Christ saved me and opened my eyes to the truth. Now I have a heart to help women, married or single, walk in the joy of God’s intended design for their life.
Domestic training for girls is unheard of. Home economic courses that I remember taking in high school are now obsolete, being replaced by units on personal finance, career development, and how to be a responsible consumer. Now we understand why the role of a Titus woman is so critical in the church today. It is our responsibility as Christian women to provide the teaching and training of our young women and to help them make their house a home.
We are tempted to believe that the work of a home builder is inferior to other opportunities. But we need to see our homes as a ministry, a real mission field where lives are changed by our eternal investment. Our homes are our mission fields, a high and holy calling. If we are MIA, there is no one to take our place and our homes fall apart.
Someone once said of Edith Schaeffer, “As many people were brought to the Lord through Mrs. Schaeffer’s cinnamon buns as through Dr. Schaeffer’s sermons.”
Terri Rodriguez
Margy this is so true!!! In our culture there are young people craving mothers, meals, and mentoring. Let us as women keep our homes and our hearts a welcome dormat for those who have none. Such wise words Margy.