Older women are not off the hook with this post…because all of the qualities listed for young women to learn –older women should be role-modeling for us. Now remember, grace. We are all a work in progress and none of us will have these mastered perfectly…ever. That is why we need the power of Jesus in our lives. He helps us become the {radical} woman he calls us to be.
Titus 2:3-5 says:
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
This list from Titus 2 is truly {Radical}.
Let’s take a look at the 5 {Radical} qualities young women should pursue according to Titus 2:5.
1.) Self-Control
A {radical} young woman pursues self-control. She is self-controlled with her spending habits, her words, her temper, her appetites, her priorities, and her use of time. As she pursues intimacy with God, her soul is satisfied and she finds contentment and strength through his Spirit. A woman who has self-control is a woman who has a strong prayer life. I find myself regularly calling out to God in moments of weakness asking God to please give me strength to have self-control. If you are in this place today – go to God’s throne and ask him for self-control. He wants to help you.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. ~ I Timothy 6:6
2.) Purity
The greek word for purity here is ‘hagnos’ and is referring to moral and sexual purity. Singers and actors applauded with Oscars, Emmys and other awards, flaunt their sexuality and the world idolizes it.
But God says ” Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4
3.) Working at Home
First I want to focus on the word – “working“. A Godly woman is not lazy – she is to be a hard worker.
Now the “at home” part. Oh dear, must we get so controversial? Scripture says it – so I can’t skip over this. When Paul wrote Titus 2 – he did not feel the need to qualify it. In his culture, women would have been expected to sew the family’s clothing, plant a garden, grind her own wheat, cook over fire, wash the clothes down by a river, care for the children, care for the poor and open her home to guests. Her work in the home was a necessity to survival.
But many of these women helped the family out financially by selling some of the things they had sown (like the Proverbs 31 woman or Lydia the seller of purple), or selling baked goods or teaching children. This passage does not forbid women to earn an income. But a {radical} young woman should be especially skilled in her homemaking abilities.
{Radical} women – we should shine like lights in a dark world. We should love maintaining a warm cozy home for our family and those passing through. Our home should stand out as the most inviting place in the neighborhood – and I’m not talking about having the best decorations. Let’s not treat housework as a mindless, brain numbing, waste of time —as the world would convince us to believe. Clearly – God values women “working at home” so much that he put it in scripture. We should value what God values.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ~ Proverbs 31:27
(for more encouragement on diligence in the home, subscribe to Women Living Well and receive my free Proverbs 31 ebook and video series.)
4.) Kind
A kind woman is a {radical} woman who is careful with her words, generous, thoughtful and compassionate. She is cheerfully helpful and gracious when wronged. Her husband and children see her as a kind woman. Would your family describe you this way?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22, 23
5.) Submissive to their own husbands
First, I love that this passage specifies — submission “to our own”husband. Women are not inferior to men and we are not to submit to ALL men. There’s just one specific relationship where God has called us to submit and it is to our husband. This is where feminists unite and have a bra burning. But a {radical] young woman – doesn’t participate in those. She stands out in this modern world as a woman who allows her husband to take the lead. Like a couple doing a ballroom dance, the husband leads as she follows and together their life is beautiful. Is learning the dance difficult and frustrating at times? You bet. That’s why we need older women – role modeling and teaching younger women how to dance well.
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ~ Colossians 3:18
In conclusion, every woman should strive to be a Titus 2 Woman. Some of us need to work on becoming the Titus 2 older woman. Others of us need to work on becoming the Titus 2 younger woman. Most churches fail to encourage and create an environment where this sort of mentorship takes place. We have organized retreats and events – but real life connections where older women connect and teach and train younger women – specifically how to love their husbands and children and how to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their husbands…are woefully lacking.
{Radical} Women – I plead with you – reach out to each other. Connect with each other. Give each other grace and love and kindness and together let’s pursue becoming Titus 2 {radical} women – to the glory of God!
Chime In: Young Women – what are you pursuing? Are you pursuing the above 5 qualities that God has called us to pursue? Which do you find the hardest?
Older Women, who are you teaching and training to become like the above?
Walk with the King,
Written by Courtney
Posted by. Kachi
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