Woman, the Helper

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.””

Genesis 2:18

The world has so many standards and agendas for what people should be like and how our lives should be lived, doesn’t it? It’s nothing new. It’s just always been a part of the corrupted world we live in, I think. So many messages are being impressed upon our brains every day that we start listening to them over time, and we gradually accept them. It’s easier to accept and believe them when they’re the only messages we’re putting into our heads. If we were to read the Bible, though, we’d have another, different, wiser message, and we’d be better equipped to fight the lies of the world.

What are some of the pressures of the world that come to your mind when it comes to what “they” think you should be doing with your life? Going to college after graduation? Getting a full-time job after that? Doing whatever makes you happy? I don’t know what all you’re coming up with, but there’s a good chance some of them are even contradicting themselves. (A house divided against itself can’t stand!) And for whatever reason, we believe some of these things and work so hard to live up to these standards, no matter how unrealistic. Maybe you’re a high school student and the lie that instantly came to your mind that you might believe was that you should continue your education and go to a four-year college after graduation. Maybe you’re a mom and what came to your mind was that the world thinks you and your husband both should be working full-time. Maybe you’re single in your 30s and the thought that came to your mind was that you should be married by now. Do any of these scenarios sound biblical? Maybe God is calling you to go to school again or get a new job, but are God’s plans the same for everyone? (No!)

Alright, alright, you may be wondering what the verse I began with has anything to do with any of this. Well, the world has a lot of standards for us- more specifically in this case, women. Like I said, there are a lot of contradicting messages, but some of the ones we’ll stick with today are the ones that say we should be getting a degree and building a career for ourselves, and not depending on a man for a living. The world might say that women need to be able to take care of themselves in case a relationship doesn’t work out, especially for when the woman might have children to support. The world pushes equality with men, saying women can do anything a man can do. It looks down on stay-at-home wives and mothers who rely on their husbands’ income. And while I believe women should be treated with respect and we shouldn’t be enslaved or anything like that, I also believe men and women are made differently and are called to different roles.

As we live life and grow up, we learn things about ourselves. After graduating high school, I eventually started working full-time doing something I knew I liked doing going into it. I really liked the job and it lasted for a while. After that job, I got a different full-time job, trying something new, which I ended up also liking. However, even though I enjoyed doing these jobs for the most part, I wasn’t doing well working all day every day. Working full-time was affecting my physical and mental health and the other parts of my life, and I struggled with work-life balance. I eventually realized that I don’t think I was made to work outside the home full-time. My body and mind just didn’t like it. It’s not what I ever wanted for my adult life. I never wanted to be a career girl. I’ve always wanted to follow God’s plan for me so I try to seek His will in life choices, and I am a pretty responsible person so I wanted to be able to be making an income for myself, but I was not adjusting to that kind of schedule or lifestyle well. And while I believe God had me in those places on purpose -or at least used those experiences for good-, I don’t believe He has called me to a life of full-time work away from home. And this really doesn’t surprise me because of what the Bible tells me.

The Bible tells me that the woman was created to be the helper of man. (Genesis 2:18) The Bible tells me that it’s good for young women to get married, bear children, and keep house. (1 Timothy 5:14 & Titus 2:4-5) The Bible tells me that women are weaker than men. (1 Peter 3:7)

Don’t get me wrong; taking care of a house and children is a lot of work, and there’s a lot of work to do at home even if you’re not a mother or wife and not in school. However, I believe women in general were naturally gifted to keep house and care for children. Not all women were made or called to be mothers and homemakers, but I believe that more women than not are. I believe that it’s a truly good thing for a woman to desire to marry a man and have children and take care of a household. If you want to live a life like this, don’t worry about what the world says. Seek God and His will by praying and reading the Bible. Don’t listen to voices that oppose what the word of God says, even if they’re voices in your circles. Don’t try to live up to the ever-changing standards of the world. Don’t believe that it’s wrong to depend on a husband to provide for you and your children. Don’t listen to the lies!

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5

“Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.” 1 Timothy 5:14-15

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

“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 Timothy 5:8

(I recommend reading the entire book of First Timothy to get better context and understanding for these verses, and more Bible-reading if you’ve realized you do believe some of the lies of the world!)