Page 72 - No Apologies

Mark 7:9-13
He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may
keep your tradition. For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He
who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'If a man says to
his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban
(that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his
mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have
handed down. And many such things you do."

I do not believe Yahweh will approve of a woman running away from her husband to
serve Him anymore than He would approve of a servant running away from his master. In
Paul’s epistle to Philemon, he wrote about a run away servant named Onesimus. Onesimus
had converted to the faith and was devoted to Paul. He had fled from his master, but Paul
sent him back with a plea to Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ. Yet, Paul
did not command Philemon to set him free. Paul only entreated Philemon to treat
Onesimus with kindness. Service to God is not an excuse to violate that authority that exists
in other areas of our lives.

(For those who question why the Bible does not condemn slavery, I recommend the
f o l l o w i n g p o s t :
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-does-bible-not-condemn-slaver.html)

In the Old Testament a daughter’s vow of service to Yahweh was subject to her father’s
approval. Similarly, a wife’s vow of service to Yahweh was subject to her husband’s
approval. (Numbers 30:3-16) The father, or husband, could declare the woman’s vow of
service to be invalid. She would then be released from her vow of service to God. God would
not consider her an oath breaker for not keeping her commitment to Him, for Yahweh
upholds the authority of the man in the life of the woman. Similarly, the married Christian
woman is under the authority of her husband. She must seek his approval to serve Christ
if that service would take her away from her duties as a wife and mother. If her husband
approves, she is free to serve the Lord according to the leading of the Spirit of Christ.
There are times when Yahweh will also approve of a woman working in some field of
secular employment. The Proverbs 31 woman is set forth as an example of a godly woman.
She was very industrious.

Proverbs 31:16-18
She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds
herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise
is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

Although the work described here could be considered a “cottage industry,” something
that can be done from home, there are women who are guided by the Father to labor outside
the home. The godly woman will seek to discern the will of God for her life, and to follow
wherever He guides. She will not view the world and its opportunities as a means to pursue
a selfish agenda. She will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
It must be considered an unusual event for a married woman with children to work
outside the home, however. The admonition of the apostles is for women to be “keepers at