A keeper at home is certainly not a title many women in our day will embrace. Before we delve into what Paul is teaching us in this verse, let me tell you what it is not saying. It is not saying we must stay home, have babies, clean the house, and become mindless creatures. These ideas are lies Satan has propagated since the beginning of creation. In Genesis 3:5, Satan appealed to Eve’s ego and she bought it. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” She began to believe God was holding her back, and she sinned. This is what Satan is still telling women today. God’s plan is outdated. It is designed to hold women back. Satan has made millions making women believe they can have it all. A great career, a beautiful home that someone else takes care of, smart kids that someone else is training, and a husband that values them because of the money they make. Once you throw God’s plan for the family out the window everything else is up for grabs. If God didn’t mean what He said about the family, then all other commands are negotiable. That’s the world we live in.
Now let’s look at what God does mean in Titus 2:5 when He instructed women to be keepers at home. God designed us all equal in our worth to Him, but our design was different from a man’s in function. That is obvious when you look at our physical design. There are many things a woman can do that a man cannot, such as having babies. Men and women are designed differently in the areas of emotions. Women tend to be the nurturing ones, and men are generally the matter-of-fact piece of the puzzle.
Titus 2:5 “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
The world wants us to feel left out and less than others if we stay home and take care of the family. Nothing can be further from the truth. Taking care of children and a home is demanding. It takes a lot of creativity and wisdom to master this position. As a mom, you are a caregiver, a chef, a nurse, an accountant, and a teacher among the multitude of jobs. In running a home there are bills to pay, budgets to make work, meals to prepare, groceries to buy, clothing to take care of, children to manage, and schedules to keep. This does not take into consideration the tasks that come to us from outside the home. Such as helping out at church, teaching a class, or being involved in the neighborhood. It is a never-ending job. However, the rewards for raising a godly family are beyond words. It is a job where you don’t get do-overs, so it’s important to give it your best while you have the opportunity.
On the other spectrum are those who must juggle a job while being a mom and wife. Many have no choice but to work outside the home. Some are single moms, for various reasons, some have debt out of their control, and some are just making ends meet. So many of these women want to be home but can’t. My prayers go out to them. They are in a difficult spot because the command from God is to make home a priority above things going on in the outside world.
So, what does God mean when He says to be a keeper at home? This is the only place in the Bible where this specific phrase is used. In the Greek language, it is the word oikouyus. It means a guard, to stay at home, to be domestically inclined. I’m sure some of you are already saying, “well that’s just not me.” May I remind you we are all in the process of being what God wants us to be. While we may not be inclined to enjoy or do well the things at home, we need to surrender our will to God’s will and begin to learn. We won’t all do it the same way, but your home and your family are a gift from God, and it is your primary responsibility to take care of them. We all have a multitude of things that take our time, but our home must be above those things outside the home. Yes, the home takes priority over our jobs.
It may be time to evaluate where your priorities are and how you need to change. It may not be easy to slow down on selfish ambitions and think of your family first, but I can assure you that if you do it for the glory of God, out of a heart of obedience, you will be rewarded. Your family will notice, your husband will thank you, your friends and coworkers will notice, but most of all you will honor God. Nothing done for our Savior out of a heart of love for Him ever goes unnoticed. Ladies this is an unpopular subject but we are all in this together, and we need to help one another to be what God wants us to be. I had some great examples in my life that were godly women who put their families above their ambition. I remember having a rebellious heart against the design God had for women, but when the Holy Spirit challenged my heart I saw my attitude as sin and repented. I have never regretted for one minute placing my home and family above my own desires.
