The Goal Of Every Christian Woman
I thank God that Scripture is so clear on certain issues. Certainly some issues are not as clear as others, but God is very clear about the issue of Christian character. One place where we can see God’s design for women is in Titus chapter 2:3-5.
“the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” - Titus 2:3–5 (NKJV)
The Goal
Here we see what should be the goal of every Christian woman, whether young or old. Paul covers both, older and younger women which proves that every woman is included and none are left out. We must know that all women no matter what age are called to exhibit these character traits. First of all, we are told that the older women are to be reverent in behavior. This word has the meaning of being priest like in the original Greek. This does not mean that we believe in a priesthood as in the Catholic religion, but Paul is using this word to describe that the conduct of older women should be holy and reverent in their behavior, as an Old Testament priest’s conduct was also reverent.
Next Paul says that these women are not to be slanderers. Women of God should not gossip or bring false accusations against other people. The word used for slander is a word in the Greek that actually means devil and we know that the devil is a slanderer and gossip. Women should be busy about the business of their home and should not be engaged in gossip or slander, which is the devil’s work.
Then we read that godly women should not be given too much wine. The wording here means that they should not be enslaved to wine. A Christian woman must always be careful where alcohol is concerned and never use it in an abusive manner. Abstinence from alcohol is not being mandated but prudence and wisdom when using alcohol is mandated. When using alcohol she must also think about others and not cause others to stumble; she also is never to glorify her use of alcoholic beverages. Use it but do not abuse it is Paul’s advice. Let us all never flaunt our liberty and cause others to stumble.
Next the older women are to be teachers of what is good. This means that through their lives and through their words they are to teach what is good and godly and proper. Although Paul’s words are to older women, these character traits should be sought by all Christian women no matter what age or marital status. Holiness is the goal of every Christian woman.
The Young Women
Then we read that the younger women are to love their own husbands and their children. This shows that they are devoted to the home and use their time and gifts to edify and build up their husband and children.
The younger women are to be discreet. The word describes someone who is in control of themselves and has wise and respectable behavior. Next she should also be pure. The Christian women’s conduct is to be characterized by wisdom and purity in all things. They should be modest in their dress (1 Tim 2:9-10) and never flirtatious in their conduct. They are to be holy women that are set apart for God and consecrated to him. All of their conduct is to be governed by purity.
Last but not least their conduct is to be one of submission to their own husbands. This is always a good test of a wife’s spirituality, how submissive is she to her God given authority? The purpose in all of this is so that the word of God may not be blasphemed. If Christian women are not living up to their Christian duty then this leaves the real possibility of the word of God being blasphemed. This is a very sobering reality. The purpose of the Christian women’s behavior is to promote the glory of God. They are to bring glory to their heavenly father by their pure chaste and godly conduct.
Let’s pray for our wives and the women of SJCC that they would serve as a holy and godly example to all, both in the church and to everyone in the surrounding community.
- Pastor Jay Jesuroga