We all want a job with benefits, even though for many of us these days jobs with perks are a thing of the past. Not so with God. When He gives us a job, there are always benefits, maybe not ones we immediately think of as desirable but always those that will build up His kingdom. So it is with the job of gatekeeper. Even though it’s hard work, especially considering the need to have a panoramic view, being a gatekeeper honors God and benefits the woman herself, her family, other families, and the church at large.

• Guarding the home honors God. Jesus says in John 14:15: “If you love me keep my commandments” (Also see John 14:21). Keeping God’s commandments shows that we not only love Him, but also that God’s Word is worthy of honor, especially when others see the Bible’s positive impact on our lives (Titus 2:5).

• Guarding the home benefits women. Proverbs 14:1 says, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” In the wisdom of gatekeeping, a woman builds her house, starting with herself. She is not led astray by spiritual teachers who seek their own gain, but she can follow the Word of God for her life and impact her family (2 Tim. 3:1-7).

• Guarding the home benefits husbands. When a woman focuses on doing the right thing instead of commanding her husband to get himself together and even telling him how to do it, she wins him over (1 Peter 3:1-2, 6). By following her role of submission and not usurping her husband’s authority and telling him what to do, she allows her husband to learn from his mistakes, learn from her behavior and be inclined to believe God’s Word about his position of leadership (Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7).

• Guarding the home benefits children. When a woman understands the power of training her children in the way they should go, she will 1) instill God’s Word in them so they will always have a firm foundation (Proverbs 22:6) and 2) talk to and spank them when they stray so they will be wise and saved from destruction (Proverbs 29:15, 23:14-15).

• Guarding the home benefits other families. When a woman spends time keeping her house together, she doesn’t have time to meddle in other people’s business (1 Tim. 5:13).

• Guarding the home benefits the entire church. When each woman works as a gatekeeper to build up her house, all the homes in the body of Christ will be strengthened and all these families strengthen the church. The church, then, is better equipped to impact the nations for Jesus Christ and make the world (and eternity) a better place to live (Matthew 28:18-20).

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith