Was the P~31 Woman a Career Gal?

For many months now, I have been struggling with Christians believing it is okay to send their daughters off to college, to let them go off to the workforce, and to let them go on extended missions trips, all without their fathers protection. Is this biblical? I don't believe so. I don't believe that is what the Word of God says. What are your thoughts on being a *Keeper at Home*?

I have attached an artical below written by Pastor Voddie Baucham. I think he sums it up quite well. Visit Dr. Bauchams website, http://web.me.com/voddieb/vbm/home.html
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Recently I have heard the Proverbs 31 reference over and over in support of “women pursuing careers” in politics, or otherwise. Let me say that I have never argued that a woman cannot or should not work (though this is precisely what evangelicals in the blogosphere and on the airwaves have accused me of). In fact, I am on record (see: Family Driven Faith, and my previous post) on the subject and I have been unambiguous. Ironically, my daughter, Jasmine works for me! She is my research assistant, and she runs our online store (the store is down right now as we outsource order fulfillment). How, then, do some accuse me of arguing that a woman cannot work?

While I would never argue that a woman cannot work, I have argued that a woman is required to be a “keeper at home” (Titus 2:5; cafe. 1 Timothy 5:14), and that as such, she must prioritize her home and any ‘work’ she does must not be allowed to interfere with her primary calling as wife and mother. Hence, the farmer’s wife who helps with the harvest, the baker’s wife who works by his side, or the accountant’s wife who works as his receptionist in his home business are all in a different category than the so-called ‘career gal’ (not my term) who spends her life as a “helper fit” (Genesis 2:18) for another man (or a corporation) instead of her husband. Alistair Begg has said it well:

Ladies, [motherhood] is a full-time job. Do not kid yourself that you can be a dental receptionist and a mother; that you can be a typist and a mom; that you can be a Vice President and a mom. One of the two things will win. Now look at your Bible and ask what you have to do. (Alistair Begg, “Biblical Principles for Parenting.” Truth for Life podcast)

Let me say (as Begg did) that I am not so ‘thick’ as to be completely unaware of the fact that there are many women (like my mother) who find themselves abandoned by sinful, self centered, immature, and/or irresponsible men (both the father of their children and their own fathers), and thus literally have no choice but to work and provide for their children. Nor do I fault women whose husbands have been disabled for one reason or another for having to become breadwinners. I am talking about our willful cultural acceptance of a view that sees women as a mere means of production. I’m talking about the idea set forth in the Marxist worldview that sees taking women out of the household as a twofold accomplishment. 1) It doubled the productivity of the collective, and 2) it placed children under the authority of the state (via government schools and daycare), which for the Marxist, is god incarnate.

The push-back from conservative evangelicals has come in the form of references to the Proverbs 31 woman. This woman, according to many, is the prototype of the modern ‘career gal.’ I beg to differ. In fact, I would argue that there is absolutely no clear evidence in Proverbs 31 of a career of any kind. Moreover, I wonder if those using verses 16, and 18 to argue for the appropriateness of a woman having a “career” would also take the rest of these verses as seriously.

Proverbs 31:10
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

The Proverbs 31 woman was certainly entrepreneurial. She also brought income into the home and made it more productive. However, there is nothing in this passage that even hints at a career. She didn’t punch a clock. She didn’t have a nanny. In fact, the cultural context renders such a reading implausible. Old Testament Israel was not a culture in which ‘career women’ flourished. But what about the other truths in this passage that were the norm for women in Old Testament Israel? Why is it that we use this passage to push for women having outside careers, but we don’t push for women:

Getting up before the sun to cook for their family (15)
Growing their own food (16)
Making their own bed coverings (22)
Making their husband known among the elders of the land (23)
Making their own clothes (and those of their family) (24)
Making and selling garments (24)
Looking after her household (27)

These things are clear in the text. The ‘career woman’ argument is an absolute stretch. Especially when we recognize the irrefutable hermeneutical principal that Scripture interprets Scripture. Thus, we cannot use Proverbs 31 to negate Titus 2. Whatever the Proverbs 31 woman teaches us, she cannot teach that which would contradict the direct command for women to be “keepers (or workers) at home.” (Tutus 2:5, cf. 1 Timothy 5:14)