Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I think of my job as a keeper at home. This job is big enough for two or three women in one household. Of course I’m not advocating polygamy (though a hired housekeeper would be nice), but when I think about why this job is necessary, I recollect myself, call on God and know that He gives me nothing more than I can handle. I remember that being a keeper at home, or a homemaker, is a wonderful role and is required of all women, not just married ones who don’t work outside the home. Titus 2:5 says this job is for women to serve as the home’s gatekeeper to let in the good and keep out the bad so the family can meet its spiritual goals. If women do just this job, we would see a world of difference:
• Guard your ears. Women must guard what the family hears: “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (2 Tim. 2:16). This hearing includes any talk, whether one-on-one, from the television, radio, Internet and even from the pulpit. When family members hear not just godless talk, but talk that is vain (words that have no value to the hearer), they will desire to hear more ungodly and vain talk, which will impact what they say and what they want to see.
• Watch your mouths. Women must guard what the family says: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). What you speak is often learned from what is heard and gets into your heart. Once the talk is in the heart, it eventually comes out. Mark 7:21-23 says, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
• Guard your eyes. Women must guard what the family sees. Matthew 6:22-23 tells us that when we look at healthy things, our entire bodies will be healthy. This makes me think about reading the Bible, Christian literature and other inspirational materials. These things positively impact my mind, empower my limbs and infuse my talk do duplicate good.
Without a doubt, what you hear, say and see impact the person you become and dictate your actions. Guarding these key areas will help shape your family and (one family at a time) the world to be who God has called us to be. I would love to hear from you some ways that you have guarded your family’s ears, mouths and eyes. I know your sharing that and even how you wish you had been more vigilant will be beneficial for all of us. I look forward to hearing from you.
Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith
I don’t know if other mothers are dealing with this behavior or not, but I seem to be hearing a lot of rude or cruel jokes among my two eldest. I struggled with this as a teenager. (Sometimes I still have to catch myself). But what I remember most about this is – the meaner, the better. I believe the Bible refers to this as coarse joking or jesting -(maybe somone can help me clarify). Although I sometimes find their jokes to be amusing, I am convicted and grieved when I hear them say what they’re going to do to one another and how they are going to do it if certain boundaries are crossed. This is a very nonphysical wrestle between them. I encourage them to not use speech that does not edify, but since reading your blog I see that I should show them how their jokes are corrupt communication. I need some help showing them what this behavior could lead to in the future if left unchecked.
You are right about the coarse joking (Ephesians 5:4). Many of us ignore this because playing The Dozens and otherwise cleverly telling someone off is funny to us. It is always good to be able to instruct how people’s actions go against God’s word and have negative consequences.