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Holy Homemaking: A Biblical Perspective
Homemaking is a word that will evoke different feelings and associations for different people. In today’s modern society, there are many who might think of homemaking as a boring, outdated, or oppressive occupation. It is often portrayed as a demeaning, antiquated role for women that is better left in the past.
But there are others who see homemaking as a noble, fulfilling, and creative calling. As more and more people are recognizing the importance and value of unpaid work such as raising children and maintaining the home, the view of homemaking as a less valuable job, is beginning to change.
And, as far as I’m concerned, it’s about time.
What Is Homemaking?
While homemaking is the act of maintaining a home in such a way that is practical and orderly, it is also about cultivating and creating a beautiful and hospitable atmosphere.
Yes, keeping a home involves various practical tasks such as cooking, cleaning, organizing, decorating, gardening, sewing, budgeting, shopping, etc. But keeping a home also involves nurturing and caring for the people who live there.
Homemaking is so much more than just a list of chores or duties. It is a way of expressing love, service, stewardship, and creativity. It is a way of honoring God with the resources and abilities He has given us, and more importantly, it is a way of reflecting His character and His glory, in our homes and in the lives of our families.
What Does the Bible Say About Homemaking?
The Bible has a lot to say about homemaking, both directly and indirectly. Some of the main themes and principles we can learn from the Scriptures are as follows:
Homemaking is part of God’s original design for women. In Genesis 2:18-25, we see that God created Eve to be a helper suitable for Adam. The word helper does not imply inferiority or subordination, but rather complementarity and partnership. Eve was to assist Adam in fulfilling God’s mandate to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). This included taking care of the garden of Eden, which was their home at that time. Eve was also to be Adam’s companion and lover, sharing in his joys and sorrows. Thus, from the beginning, God gave women the role of homemaking as part of their purpose and calling.
Homemaking is a way of honoring God and serving others. In Proverbs 31:10-31, we see an example of a virtuous woman who excels in homemaking. She works hard with her hands to provide food, clothing, and comfort for her family. She manages her household well and plans ahead for their needs. She is generous to the poor and hospitable to strangers. She is wise, kind, faithful, and respectful. She fears the Lord and praises Him for all He has done. Her husband and children bless her and call her blessed. She receives honor and reward for her deeds. This woman shows us that homemaking is not a menial or trivial task, but rather a noble and praiseworthy one. She shows us that homemaking is a way of honoring God with our talents and resources, and serving others with love and grace.
Homemaking is a matter of the heart and attitude. In Titus 2:3-5, we see that older women are to teach younger women to be sober-minded, loving their husbands and children, self-controlled, pure, working at home (or literally “keepers at home”), kind, and submissive to their own husbands. These qualities are not only external behaviors but also internal dispositions. They reflect a heart that is devoted to God and to His will for our lives. They reflect an attitude that is humble, contented, grateful, joyful, and peaceful. They reflect a spirit that is gentle, meek, and quiet (1 Peter 3:4). These qualities are not natural to our sinful nature but are produced by the Holy Spirit as we abide in Christ (Galatians 5:22-23). Homemaking you see, is not just about what we do, but also about who we are in Christ.
How Can We Apply Biblical Homemaking Today?
Biblical homemaking may look different for each woman depending on her season of life, circumstances, and preferences. Some women may work outside the home for various reasons, while others may choose to stay at home full-time.
Some women may have large families, while others may have small ones or, none at all.
Some women may have many modern material conveniences, while others may have limited resources.
Some women may have artistic flair, while others have a simplistic style or taste.
The point is not to compare ourselves with others or follow a certain formula, but to seek God’s guidance and wisdom for our own situation and family.
Here are some practical ways we can apply biblical homemaking today:
· Pray for God’s vision and direction for your home. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to focus on, what He wants you to prioritize, and what He wants you to let go of. Ask Him to help you balance your responsibilities and roles, and to give you grace and strength for each day.
· Plan ahead and set goals for your homemaking. Having a plan can help you be more organized, efficient, and productive. It can also help you avoid stress and frustration. Use a planner, a calendar, a notebook, or an app to keep track of your tasks, appointments, menus, budgets, and projects. You can also set goals for your homemaking, such as decluttering a certain area, learning a new skill, or improving a habit.
· Establish routines and systems for your homemaking. Routines are simply habits that you do regularly and consistently, while systems are ways of doing things that make your life easier and smoother. For example, you can have a morning routine that includes making your bed, getting dressed, having breakfast, and doing your devotions. And you can have a system for laundry that involves sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothes in a certain order. Routines and systems can help you save time and energy, and create order and peace in your home.
· Delegate and outsource some of your homemaking tasks. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. Involve your husband and children in helping with the chores, according to their age and ability. And if you budget allows, you could consider hiring someone to do some of the tasks that you don’t enjoy or don’t have time for, such as cleaning, gardening, or grocery shopping. This can free up some of your time and energy for the things that are most important to you.
Read this post - 26 Tips To Save Time And Money - Simple, Intentional Living for more practical homemaking ideas
· Learn from other homemakers and resources. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to homemaking. You can learn from other women who have more experience or expertise in certain areas of homemaking; ask them for advice, tips, or recommendations. You can also read books, blogs (such as this one!) magazines, or podcasts that offer helpful information and inspiration for homemaking.
· Do your best to make your home a place of beauty and hospitality. Homemaking is not just about functionality. It is about how your family and loved ones feel and dwell in your home. Decorating your home in a way that reflects your, and your family’s taste and style, will go a long way to creating a home that is restful and peaceful.
· Enjoy your homemaking and celebrate your accomplishments. Homemaking should not feel like a burden. It should feel like a blessing. Savor your homemaking by finding joy in the little things, such as the smell of freshly baked bread, the sound of laughter ringing through the halls, or even in the sight of a sparkling clean sink. And take a little time for yourself; enjoy the simple pleasures of a cup of tea and a good book in your favorite chair, or maybe even by taking a nap.
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Homemaking is so much more than a job; it is a gift and a privilege and more than anything, it is act of worship that greatly pleases your heavenly Father. Never feel that the work you do in your home is anything less than a ministry; it is in fact, the greatest ministry you will ever have.
25 Quotes About Homemaking
Here are some inspiring quotes about homemaking that can motivate you in your work:
“Homemaking is a passion you can pass on from generation to generation.” - Elizabeth George
“If God is good, and if He wants us to subdue this planet, and if He wants us to obey the Great Commission and conquer this world for Christ, and if He tells half the human race that they’re in charge of tending the home, it follows from this that the home is actually one of the most strategic and important tools by which the world will be won.” - Douglas Wilson
“The home is the first and most effective place to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self control, the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home.” - David O. McKay
“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career.” - C.S. Lewis
“The homemaker has the opportunity to make a profound impact on society by raising up a generation of godly children who will be salt and light in a dark world.” - Nancy Leigh DeMoss
“Homemaking is not just something we do to keep our homes clean and tidy; it’s something we do to create an atmosphere of love, joy, peace, and beauty that will bless our families and glorify God.” - Sally Clarkson
“Homemaking is not just about cleaning house; it’s about creating a home that reflects your values, your personality, your dreams, your hopes, your faith.” - Edith Schaeffer
“Homemaking is not just about cooking meals; it’s about nourishing souls.” - Crystal Paine
“Homemaking is not just about doing laundry; it’s about washing away the stains of sin with forgiveness and grace.” - Jennifer Ross
“Homemaking is not just about making beds; it’s about making memories.” - Unknown
"Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home, into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty, is strong–inspired for noble and victorious living.” - J.R. MILLER
“Homemaking is not just about sweeping floors; it’s about sweeping away fears with love.” - Unknown
“Homemaking is not just about washing dishes; it’s about washing away tears with compassion.” - Unknown
“The home is the first and most effective place to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self control, the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home.” David O. McKay
“Homemaking is not just about decorating rooms; it’s about creating a haven of rest for weary souls.” - Unknown
“I believe that a godly home is a foretaste of heaven. Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.” - Jani Ortlund
“Homemaking is not just about planting gardens; it’s about planting seeds of faith in hearts.” - Unknown
“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” - Maya Angelou
“The home is not just a place to change clothes between activities and then crash at night; rather it should be a vibrant center of education, industry, service, and worship. God created the home to be a place bursting with activity and conversation, while simultaneously providing peace and refuge.” - Zan Tyle
“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only–and that is to support the ultimate career.” - C.S Lewis
“The homemaker has the ability to see beyond what’s immediately visible.” – Edith Schaeffer
“The homemaker has the gift of creating an atmosphere of peace, love, and harmony in her home.” – Edith Schaeffer
“The homemaker has the power to transform a house into a home.” – Edith Schaeffer
"Christ dwells there, and his blessed influence fills with divine tenderness all the home-life…If we would make our homes truly Christian homes, our daily lives must be like our daily prayers…The prayers must be lived.” —J.R. Miller
“The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.” - Billy Graham
8 Bible Verses That Support Homemaking as an Important Job
Here are some Bible verses that support homemaking as an important job that honors God and serves others:
· Genesis 2:18: Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
· Proverbs 31:27: She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
· 1 Timothy 5:14: So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
· Titus 2:4-5: And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
· Psalm 127:3: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
· Proverbs 14:1: The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
· Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
· Matthew 25:40: And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Conclusion
Homemaking is a holy and honorable calling that glorifies God and serves others with our gifts and abilities. It requires wisdom, skill, diligence, and grace. Homemaking is not easy, but it is rewarding. It is a way of creating a home that is a refuge, a sanctuary, and a blessing for our families and guests. Homemaking is not something we do for ourselves, but something we do for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good. It is a ministry that we can perform with humility and generosity. Homemaking is a holy work that matters for eternity. Let us do it well for God’s glory and our good.
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And, as always,
Stay holy, Beloved.
Stay hygge.
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