stay at home mom with baby reading books

October 4, 2023

The Working Christian Mother

Parenting

Filed In

The working Christian mother has a big decision after welcoming her first child into the world- how much should she work.

This is a very personal and individual decision however the Bible is an excellent resource to help illuminate aspects to consider, when making this decision.

Work is a part of our entire life. Motherhood on the other hand- although 18 years long at the shortest- does indeed end, leaving a woman with many years left to contribute to the family.

One of the least things to consider according to the Lord, is money for the future. The Bible tells us to be content with what we have and God will take care of our future needs as we stay close to Him.

The Benefits Of Being A Christ Follower

If we are true followers of the Lord and not simply believers, our future needs will be taken care of by the Lord. This is not to say we can sit back and do nothing. No, but God will lead us into the best job to make up financial loss from staying home with children. Followers of Christ are able to claim the promises of God due to our obedience. Provision is a promise from God to His obedient followers.

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4)

This verse says that we may participate in God’s promises. It doesn’t say that we automatically receive God’s promised blessings. Many of God’s blessings are conditional.

This verse also states that through these blessings we will escape the corruption in the world. God desires us to do things His way and His way is not the rat race of exhaustion and stress while chasing after money.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”(Matt 6:26-27)

A Christian mom who desires to stay home with her children and live only on the income of her husband, will have other income options according to the Bible.

The Book of Corinthians teaches us that even if we feel we don’t have enough for ourselves, when we sow some seed (money, help, time) into those less fortunate, we will be rewarded.

“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”(2 Cor 9 :6)

If we take care of others who are less fortunate, the Lord who provides our “seed” will enrich us in all aspects of life and we will be fully satisfied. (see 2 Cor 9:10)

A financial crisis can be avoided by handling our money and our time God’s way. If we steward our money well, sharing and giving tithes on a consistent and regular basis, the Lord blesses us.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10 NIV)

We must not wait until our budget says we are financially sound before we can be generous. No, we must give, trusting that the Lord will provide over and above what we need because His Word says so.

” God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”(2 Cor 9:8)

“Greed brings grief to the whole family.” (Prov 15:27)

The Perfect Example Of Provision

There is a story in the Old Testament of a widow woman who lived in Zarephath who was approached by Elijah the prophet for some water and a cake of bread. The woman had only a handful of flour and some oil left and she was going to eat her last “meal” with her son and die. But this is not how people who follow the Lord end their lives!

“Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”(1 Kings 17:13-14 NIV)

The widow did indeed listen to the prophet Elijah and there was always enough flour and oil to live on until the famine lifted.

What does this mean? God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and He cannot lie.

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)

“Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”(Prov 3:9-10)

This verse shows us that our tithe- the first 10% off the top of our paycheck- protects our income and increases it.

Let’s Consider The Children

So now that we have looked at how our financial income can be secured, let’s look at what God thinks about caring for our own children.

The verse below is quite straight forward. God is telling us that we moms and dads must be the ones to primarily provide for our children’s needs, if not, we have denied our faith in God’s provision. Take a look:

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”(1 Tim 5-8 NKJV)

The word “provide” in that verse is προνοεῖ in the original Greek. This word means to forsee, to take thought beforehand. We must consider the social, emotional and physical limits of our children and make arrangements not to push our children into a schedule that is too rigid, fast paced and unhealthy. God has placed a need to love and be loved in all human beings and it starts in the family. Children gain their self esteem, security and sense of self worth through their parents and we also teach children how to eventually be a loving parent. In modeling and trusting Jesus, we show our children who He is and their faith begins and will build over time.

Elsewhere in the Bible the Lord says:

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”(Matt 19:29 NIV)

The word fields in this verse means our job or source of income. When we reduce work in order to live as God instructs and care for our children, we will be rewarded with more than enough (100x more) at the time we need it.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, therefore as we study the stories and people of old, we can derive significant instruction as we make this very important decision for our family.

Proverbs chapter 31 is a chapter depicting a working mom and an excellent wife.

THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN

The Proverbs 31 woman does indeed work however we can see by her priorities, that her family comes first. She cares for the needs of everyone in her home including her husband, children, servants and the needy around her. This would require that she schedule her work accordingly. God never asks us to weary ourselves to gain wealth.

“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.”(Proverbs 23:4 NLT)

God is our provider and people are the Lord’s first concern. Below I have listed the qualities of a working mom found in Proverbs chapter 31:

  • She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
  • She gets up while it is still night;
  • She provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
  • She considers a field and buys it and out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
  • She sets about her work vigorously
  • She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
  • She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
  • When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
  • She makes coverings for her bed
  • She makes linen garments and sells them,
  • She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
  • She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness
  • Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

So what can we take away from this beautiful depiction of a noble woman?

Beneath the surface of this verse of Scripture lies the responsibility of all people. We should consider our work important but not more important than those in our family.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will be given unto you.”(Matt 6:33)

Waking up early and working late will ensure our futures will bring a smile and not regret as this Proverb states but that doesn’t necessarily mean working for money. The inclusion of helping the needy is an important part of this verse and is an act close to the heart of God. There will always be poor in the land and if those who have enough, share what we have- be it time, money or assistance- God will never leave us empty handed.

“Give and it will be given to you, a good measure pressed down shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap, for with the measure you use it will be measured unto you.”

(Luke 6:38NIV)

Food for thought,

Lisa

This link brings you to my favorite Bible with excellent teaching points. Click here

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