A Woman's Extraordinary Value

1 Peter 3:3-4

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in god's eyes."

For the following couple of posts, I want to highlight a Woman's Value. So many scripture verses are dedicated to God's idea of what womanhood should look like. I am so amazed at the value scripture places on women. Proverbs 31, Titus 2, I Peter 3:3 and many more tell us of God's design for the role women play in the world and in the lives of those he has placed in our lives; whether we are single, married, mothers or if we are childless. 

In a world where society has taken womanhood and stripped all biblical value from it and then taken it and tattooed it with it's own ideals, it is no wonder that we women are confused about what God has to say about us and whether or not we feel scripture identifies with us or belittles us. Based on scripture, the thing we can be certain of is this: The Lord highly esteems and values women. 

 In his book Twelve Extraordinary Women, John MaCarthur  points out:

"women in pagan societies during biblical times 

were often treated with little more dignity than animals.

Some of the best-known Greek philosophers-considered the brightest minds in their era- taught that women are inferior creatures by nature. Even in the Roman Empire... women were usually regarded as mere chattel-personal possessions of their husbands or fathers, with hardly any better standing than household slaves....

Christian women who converted out of pagan society were 

automatically freed from a host of demanding practices... they rose to prominence in home and church, where they were honored and admired for feminine virtues like hospitality, ministry to the sick, the care and nurture of their own families, and the loving labor of their hands (Acts 9:39)

I wanted to highlight our roles through a few key books, scriptures and examples from my own life (yes, exciting I know...**sniff.) and other women who will allow me to share through their examples. But mainly, as Mr. MaCarthur points out: "We need to go back to Scripture to see what God's ideal for a woman really is." 

I, for one desire to learn as much as possible because I know how easy it is to allow the mindset of my sinful nature and of this world to pollute my thinking. I can tell this when I get short and snappy with my kids and husband. In fact, ( I will regret sharing this story later) recently, actually it is an every-night-occurrence, my hard working husband was home from a long day and asked if I could please make him his favorite tea. I know how he likes it because I make it EVERY night. I boil the water just right, place the camomile tea bag inside, steep just long enough, add the perfect blend of honey and lemon, and he enjoys. Usually, not always, granted... but usually, I make it and cheerfully give it to him with a June Cleaver kiss and a "enjoy it dear" remark and its done! With a happily loved husband enjoying his tea. 

When I know my sin is at work within me, this is my response to him after being asked for tea: "You should be making my tea after all I have been doing for you! But, being the helpful wife that I am, I will get it!"... throw in a few banging cabinets and too much honey or not enough lemon- just to rub it in... and a few daydreams of pouring his tea down his shirt front and adding the honey and lemon to top it off- 

Yea... not a great example of submission, is it? Thankfully, I have never poured tea down my husbands shirt front, but after reading this, he might think twice next time he asks for tea (don't worry honey, I do love serving you your tea).  

What I wish to communicate, is this: although our sinful nature is constantly at war within us, God's grace is so much more sufficient. We can glean from the examples of women gone before us and from godly women around us... and hopefully not learn by my bad example! 

What is your struggle? How are you learning to grow as a woman; in the roles you have been placed in? What is your idea of what God thinks of you? In the next few posts, Let's look to scripture for our answers...