This is a pep talk I gave somewhere about how God takes the tasks that we do (as we offer them up to Him), no matter how mundane they may seem to us, and He uses them to transform the culture around us.

Women often give themselves a poor job description. This happens all the time. (“I’m just a stay-at-home mom. Excuse me for living.”) But God has given us good work to do and we should realize how much He values it and how effective it really is.

Scripture tells women to adorn themselves in good works (1 Tim. 2:9-10). A couple chapters later in 1 Timothy, we see what kind of woman can be added to the list of widows the church supports: if she is “well reported of for good works”…such as (and this is very important)……

1. bringing up children

2. lodging strangers

3. washing the saints’ feet

4. relieving the afflicted

5. diligently following every good work.

Women are a huge resource in the church. As we embrace the jobs that God has given us, it is transforming us, our families, our church, and our town. It’s totally out of our hands.

Consider some of the women Paul makes mention of.

In Romans 16 Paul refers to several women who have helped him:

Phoebe our sister, a servant of the church, a helper of many and of Paul also.

Priscilla was called one of his fellow workers who laid down her own neck for his life (and the church met in her home).

And he mentions Mary “who bestowed much labor on us.”

Ruth had a well-known reputation: “For all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.”

As we serve one another, this knits us together in love, confirms our family relationship to one another, and builds a healthy sturdy church. It is invisible, but by faith we see it.

Young women: you are able to help your mothers at home with this and learn from them how to do it.

Mothers: As you keep feeding your children, behold, they do grow! Keep your homes, build your homes. All your washing and shopping and planning and cooking and cleaning and swatting is used by God to make faithful homes and faithful children.

Unmarried women: Participate in the life of the church; embrace domesticity; learn from the older women; teach the younger women.

Widows: You may still be contributing to the life of the church by means of hospitality (even if it is just a cup of tea), encouraging the younger women to keep pressing on, sharing your stories and wisdom, getting to know younger families, and participating as much as you are able in the life of the church.

Remember the seasons of our lives change. What you are doing now won’t be what you are doing in just a few years. Things change. Keep thinking long-term. God takes our little labors and multiplies the fruit of them.

Showers, weddings, potlucks, ladies’ fellowship meetings, sabbath dinners, meals for needy families; these are all potent things, powerful things when we do them unto the Lord to glorify and please Him. They are not ends in themselves. As we give ourselves away, we find we have more, not less.