Glorifying God as Women
It is a privilege to write to you who read Grace & Truth concerning women. I am a wife and a mother, not a writer. In my own opinions and thoughts I place little trust but on the words of God, the Bible, I can stand firmly. Why? Because the Bible is true. It is authoritative and sufficient. It contains all things necessary for our faith and daily living in order to live lives pleasing to God. 2 Tim 3:16–17 say, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God (in this case, woman of God) may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
But still you may be asking, “Why a special section for women?” It is because men and women are different, and it was God who in His wisdom created us differently. True, we are equal in our salvation by grace and in our position in Christ. We are equal in our chief end of glorifying God in all our thoughts, words, and deeds. The same Spirit seals us and works in us to teach and lead and comfort and make us holy. But men are men and women are women. We, as women, are to bring glory to God as women.
As we look together at the duties of and commands for women, and the qualities of godly women taught in the Scriptures, we will gain appreciation of our created femaleness. We will understand the tremendous sphere of influence given us in our homes, in the church, and in society. We will feel the weighty responsibilities that rest on us. And we will be better able to stand firm and not be swayed and led astray by the subtle false teachings which are all around us in this world.
Thus, the first truth which must grip you is that God has created you a woman. It was no accident, but a calling. In the short time that we have to live on this earth, we must be busy doing the good works for which God, in his wisdom, created us. Throughout Scripture there are various commands and instructions given to believers in general — but in addition, He gives specific duties to particular groups and individuals. In searching the Scriptures we learn what instruction and duties are for women. Then, we must do them, for “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecc. 12:13–14).
This directive to obey God’s commandments is not a burden for those of us who love Christ. As it says in question and answer #1 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Our obedience brings Him glory and us great joy. But there is such a lack of sound doctrine being taught today that women are ignorant of the duties required of them by God. Knowledge of the truth leads to godliness. Let us consider some of them together. We will begin with Titus 2:3–5.
Paul had left Titus in Crete to set in order what was left unfinished and to appoint elders in the churches in every town. There were many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, who needed to be silenced because they were ruining whole households by teaching things that out not to be taught for the sake of dishonest gain. Titus was instructed by Paul to teach the things which were fitting for sound doctrine; in verses 3–5 he writes:
“Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in their behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, and so to train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited.”
Women were divided into two groups older and younger. The older women were to be instructed “to be” certain things. Their lives were to be characterized by specific traits and that by so being, they would also be having an extremely important teaching ministry to the younger women. By their lives and words they were to be teaching what was good. The eyes of the younger women around would be upon them and so the first duty referred to was that they be –
1. Reverent in their behavior.
All that characterizes her life — her thoughts, her words, her dress, her action — should be as becomes a holy women. A women set apart from the standards of this world, who does what is right because she fears God more than she desires the praise of people. Who are the older women? In one sense we are all older than someone else — older sisters over younger, young married over single teens, etc. And in this regard we have a duty to live a godly life always and everywhere so we encourage these younger girls to do as well. But then there are women who are older in years. Their lives have spanned longer periods of time and have experienced the seasons of life, child hood, teen years, marriage, children, grandchildren, widowhood, sufferings and joys. These are women whom the younger ones watch for they have already passed through the times which the others are just beginning. If you are one of these older women, you have an essential work to do with the younger women you find around you and it begins with you being holy.
Article edited and re-shared from Grace & Truth magazine, issue №73 (1995), Patty Owen
