Thursday, November 5, 2009

Is The Reflection That Of A House Or A Home?


Titus 2:3-5 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 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."

Scripture tells us that we are to be "keepers at home." I'm sure this means different things to each person, but I wondered something. Just by doing laundry, cleaning house, cooking meals, tending to chores, etc. Does this define a Keeper of the Home? I don't really think so. I think it is a heart issue first over an outward expression.

The definition of a "house" is a structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons.

A "home" is defined as an environment offering security and happiness, a valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin. The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted.

So when we look at Scripture "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home..." it clearly tells us to be keepers at home (not house.) My interpretation of home from the above definitions, means not a building or structure...but instead an environment of discovery, origin. What environment are we to keep & discover? Our family! Who's family? Someone else's? NO! Our own family/home. But how can one do this when one is first of all...not at home themselves. The Bible tells us we need to be discreet (marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint.) We can't do this when we are trying to get into other people's business -- thus we are not at home. We are also told to be chaste ((of conduct, speech, etc.) pure; decent; modest; free from embellishment; simple; restrained.) There again, it seems a hard task to be chaste if we are not home.

Every choice we make, makes it either easier or harder for us to keep our homes. We need to evaluate our hearts and find out where our home and hearts are. Luke 12:24 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Whether we are sweeping the living room floor, folding laundry, watching your child's football game or having a picnic lunch with our spouse...we are ultimately keeping our home. It's not bricks and mortar that make a home, it's family. When another person looks at our "home" what do they see? Is it merely an architect and construction company's finished product or is something much deeper within? Something that is of far more value than building supplies that can be replaced? Does our family reflect a home of safe refuge, a place or origin and discovery? Or it something that needs a good cleaning? Do the cobwebs of discord and dust of neglect reveal to others that you have not been keeping your home, let alone keeping it in a manner that glorifies GOD? The little things we do in and of our home/family are oft times the unspoken yet visual testimony of JESUS in our lives. This visual testimony may very well be a seed or harvest to a lost soul that needs the LORD.

The same can be related to the Church itself. When visitors come in the doors ~ are they too finding only a 'house,' or it is a true Christian home?

5 comments:

Caroline said...

Thank you, this is a very helpful post. I will be re-reading this a couple times today.
xoxo

Unknown said...

Good post. :)

Mrs. B, a very peculiar person said...

Excellent post, thanks for sharing.
Mrs.B

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

You've made great responses to your question: "Just by doing laundry, cleaning house, cooking meals, tending to chores, etc. Does this define a Keeper of the Home?" We all know the answer is a firm "No." The treasures in our homes are the souls placed in our care and our offerings through them to our Lord. Whether we are Mary or Martha, listening to Him or serving in His honor, it is all for Him. May He bless such service.

Keeper of the Home said...

Thank you to each of you for your lovely response to this post.

~Mrs. M