Stewardship of the Home
“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27 (NIV)When we hear the word “stewardship” at church, we usually think of giving our time and money. Actually it means more than that. “Steward” is another name for a manager, a person who oversees resources and people.
This scripture verse from Proverbs 31 describes a “wife of noble character”. Proverbs 31:10 asks, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” This person is valuable and precious indeed! Let’s find out more about her.
These verses list many character traits a Godly woman strives to develop in her life. Read the entire section, Proverbs 31:10 – 31. You will find it praises many qualities of a capable woman.
An important key is found in verse 27: “She watches over the affairs of her household”. That’s a good definition of a manager, or a steward. This valuable woman of noble character manages her household well. The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “She looks well to how things go in her household.”
What things does a woman have to watch over in her household? Take a moment and think about all the activities that go on in a home. We eat, sleep, bathe, get dressed, relax, play, raise and train children, take care of people when they are sick, offer hospitality, study, clean, organize, repair things… That’s quite a list and you can probably add to it!
These things do not “just happen”. If you want to eat at home someone has to buy the food, plan how to use it, and then prepare it. The kitchen needs to be cleaned up and dishes washed. When the weather turns cold, your summer clothes won’t be warm enough. Someone has to plan ahead so everyone has warm clothes that fit and that are clean and in good repair. What about special occasions? When Christmas comes, someone has to know where to find the ornaments and lights for the tree.
A good manager organizes and plans so that activities like these can run smoothly. Some are daily activities: we all like to eat every day so we must plan to purchase, store and prepare food for our meals on a continuous basis. Even when you eat out, someone must plan where to go and have the money to pay for it.
Other activities happen weekly, monthly, or seasonally. A good manager is prepared because she thinks ahead and plans the tasks that need to be done so her home runs efficiently.
A capable homemaker is a good manager. She watches over everything and everyone in her home. She does not ignore her home, but takes care of it so that her family lives comfortably. This does not mean her house will look like a picture out of a magazine, but rather that her home will be a place where family members are nurtured and loved, a refuge from the busy world.
The second part of this verse tells us that the wife of noble character “does not eat the bread of idleness”. She does not waste her time! She is not lazy, but takes care of the needs of her household. Instead of spending hours watching TV or talking on the phone, she looks after the needs of her family and sets wise priorities. She uses her time wisely and well.
Whether you share a bedroom or have your own, do you take good care of it? Are you learning to be a good manager so that your clothes and other belongings are well organized? Can you easily find what you need in your closet or do you waste time hunting for things that got buried under a heap on the floor?
It takes time and practice to become a good steward. Someday you will have an entire house to manage. For now, you have just a small area to care for. Your household responsibilities are very important. Not only do you help your parents and learn important skills, but also you are developing that noble character that is more precious than rubies!
Copyright, 2001, 2009 Laurie Latour.
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