Summary by Brother Benedict Hart, Minister GKS
Sermon: The virtues and Duties of a Christian Housewife
Talk by Sister Pauline Banee, chairperson, GKS Women Fellowship, Rumuokoro Branch, PH
The woman was created by God to serve as the help meet for the man and for the purpose of procreation. When married she becomes a housewife. She must godly qualities that would distinguish her as a Christian housewife.
She should acquire spiritual knowledge. This is by constant reading of the Bible and regular attendance to all meetings of the Church. (Hebrews 10:25) Another is prayer. We ought to pray as housewives. Pray for our husbands. Pray for our children who are exposed to various negativities. Read Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:6. Our Saviour Jesus Christ enjoins us to ask and what we want will be given to us. (Matthew 7:7-11) He even gave us the pattern and guidelines for prayer. Matthew 6:5-8, 9-13.
Love. We should love God with all our heart and soul and love our neighbours as ourselves. This means having the fear of God from the bottom of our hearts. (Matthew 22:34-40) We should contribute our quota to the work of God; pay tithes. Loving our neighbours, means loving your husbands, children, fellow sisters, brothers, others.
Avoid Indecent dressing. Husbands should not push a housewife to dress indecently as they must dress in the way that gives glory to God. – Deuteronomy 22:5.
Respect for the husband: The headship of the man over the woman is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:3. In Genesis 3:16 the law is given that the woman’s desire shall be to the husband. See also Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:1-6.
Contentment and diligence. Greed for money is not good. (1 Timothy 6:6-10) A wise woman builds her house and is a keeper at home. – Proverbs 14:1. Titus 2:3-5.
We are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. We should follow the godly examples of Abigail. (1 Samuel 25:9-25) She used her virtues to manage her home; she knew when to approach her husband, when he was drunk, she let him be until he was sober. Hannah did not hate her mate, step children, or accuse them of being witches and wizards who were preventing her from getting pregnant; Sarah was able to stay with her husband and respect and serve him dutifully throughout all the years she had no child. The faith and patience of Ruth and Elizabeth are also good examples to follow.
A housewife should avoid the faithlessness and worldliness of Lot’s wife who looked back and lost the race of life. (Genesis 19:26) Job’s wife saw that the husband was in deep trouble, but she told him to say what the devil wanted her to say, which is to curse God and die. (Job 2:9,10) The Bible enjoins us to let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. – Hebrews 12:1.
The Bible asserts that “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) Every housewife should ask herself if her husband, in-laws, children, other people, praise her in her absence. As managers, builders of homes, housewives should think of these things highlighted thus far. Scripture says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8.
SECOND SERMON
The Perseverance of the Canaanite Woman:
Sister Mercy Ayavoro, Secretary, Lord’s Ministry Sisters’ Committee
The word, perseverance is from the word persevere which is to continue to make efforts to achieve a particular aim, despite odds. The story of the Canaanite woman is recorded in Matthew 15:21- .It goes thus: “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” – Matthew 15:22.
This woman was a gentile, not a Jewess. She pleaded with Christ to heal her daughter. She begged, him and pleaded with him for daughter was in torment at the instance of the devil. She did not keep it to herself because she believed Christ could heal her. As true Christian women. Whenever we face challenges, we should not forget to take them to God. (- Matthew 7:7-10) We should continue to exhibit faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:1,6) Whatever challenges we may have we should cry to God believing that whatever we are passing through He would solve them. In Isaiah 45:22, we are charged to look to God. With God nothing is impossible. – Jeremiah 32:27,17.
Note also that her words or prayer was short. She did not talk for long. Our words should be few. When we pray, we should avoid vain repetitions. – Matthew 6:5-8.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. – Matthew 15:23.
This shows the woman was steadfast. She persisted because she knew what she wanted. She did not go away because he did not answer her. When we ask for things from God and do not get answers immediately, we should persist, (Colossians 4:2) We should be patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Ruth, did not go back to her people, though her mother-in-law told her to do so. We know how Ruth became the grandmother of David and from her line our Saviour was born.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24) Now that he answered her, he gave her a test. But because she had strong faith in Christ, she persevered. Rather than get angry or answer back angrily, the Bible says: “Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.” (Matthew 15:25) This shows that she still continued to persevere. Some are facing health problems, need jobs, we should not be tired in praying to God. In the parable of the widow in Luke 18:1-8 we read that the widow continued to worry the judge until he answered her prayer.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. (Matthew 15:26) This was a hard saying but what did she do? “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. (Matthew 15:27) Bible scholars say that in those days the Jews referred to non-Jews as dogs. The woman did not take offence, or use words of abuse; rather she endured. Christ knew he would help her, but was only testing her faith. As true Christian women we should keep asking and be patient. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) The lesson is, we should learn to use our tongues aright and endure since we are looking for help from God. (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians. 4:6 Proverbs. 31:26) If our child is sick we should go the extra mile to see our child is healed of that ailment. That was the role the Canaanite woman played.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. (Matthew 15:28) We can see that patience is very rewarding. Because of the patience of the woman, she endured, persevered and was steadfast, Christ healed her daughter. In this life, there are so many things we desire: employment, admission in school, fruit of the womb, ill-health, life partner. See Philippians 4:6; Jeremiah 29:11. While praying and waiting patiently, casting all our burdens on the Lord, we should delight ourselves in doing the work of God. (Psalm 27:13,14; 37:3-5; Matthew 24:12,13; Hebrews 10:35,36; 1 Corinthians 15:58) We shall be blessed when we follow the guidance of the word of God. – John 13:17.