God's Desire for Women

Introduction

A. Be Holy as I am Holy. This phrase found in God’s call to his people Israel and eventually to us as his children is a call to reflect the holiness of God in character and actions. It is not a call to perfection but certainly a call to demonstrate purity in motives and actions. This call is to all who belong to God and who seek to exalt him as Lord and Savior. It is a gender neutral call. It is a call that recognizes that men and women are to reflect God’s holiness in how we treat others and especially how we respond in our families.

B. God’s desire for women and for men is not different. His intent is that both men and women represent him in their conduct of life. However, how that looks or is carried out may differ according to function. Men and women are different and those differences result in various means to reflect God’s holiness, grace, and love. Today’s lesson is designed to speak to women through the scriptures. May we appreciate God’s call for us all as we focus on God’s call to women today.

Various Texts

A. So many of the texts in scripture about women are presented in terms of being married and raising children. We are going to avoid those texts as much as possible so that we can focus on texts that reflect a more general set of instructions for women. We are also going to bypass texts which serve as the basis for the role of women within congregational settings. Our purpose today is to remind us all of the lofty calling God has made so that women can serve him and others.

B. Let’s begin with 1 Timothy 2:9-10. The context of this passage appears to focus on the assembly but the intent can be applied beyond the assembly. Paul writes Timothy who is encouraging and teaching in Ephesus. We are not certain about the makeup of that congregation. Some have surmised that there were a number of wealthy people based upon what Paul writes in these two verses. Assuming that this is the case, Paul’s instructions focus on the appearance of a woman.

1. Paul’s instructions are clear—God expects women to dress modestly. In this case, modesty encompasses dressing in such a way that a woman’s wealth calls attention to itself. Paul says women are not to dress up but dress down. The idea is not to call attention to self. The braiding of hair is believed to reflect the showy hairstyles of Paul’s day in which a woman’s spent a lot of time and money on a hairstyle that only a rich person could afford. The gold, pearls, and expensive clothes also reflect this showy display of wealth.

2. Paul’s point is that women are to not call attention to themselves through their dress. In this case, dress which reveals wealth detracts from one’s focus on God and from others focusing on God as well. Notice back in 2:2 that in connection to government that Paul wants believers to live godly and holy lives. The word is purity or reverent. This call to purity finds itself in how one dresses.

3. Paul uses two words in verse 9. The first is “decency” which has definition of a “sense of shame or honor and includes a regard for others.” This carries the idea that a woman’s call to holiness means that in her dress she wishes to dress honorably and in a way that takes into account what will be best for others. Paul also uses the word “propriety” which carries the idea of self-control. Taken together the idea is that a woman dresses in a way which is respectful of herself and others and which reveals that she is controlling herself so as not to call attention to herself.

4. In Paul’s day, dressing in provocative ways were relegated to those women who wanted to draw attention to themselves in sexual ways. In our day and time, we find ourselves less concerned about the expensive dress than we do the dress which reveals too much skin or to provocatively as to draw attention to self.

C. Let’s look at Titus 2. In this text we have Paul’s instructions to both older and younger women. To the older women he instructs them to be reverent in the way they live. This idea of “reverent” is the idea to conduct one’s life as that which honors God. Such a life excludes speaking ill of others; giving self to wine drinking; instead to be a teacher of good things. This is so that the older women can mentor the younger women. The older women are to mentor the younger women in terms of in the ways of godliness. Particularly in how do be a wife and mother, but also how to keep God from being dishonored or spoken against.

1. This is the goal of the Christian woman. Whether older or younger to live life so as to not bring reproach or dishonor to God. It is of particular interest that Paul highlights that the family and the home life which is especially vulnerable to bringing dishonor to God.

2. This texts also demonstrates that older women are highly respected and are to be mentors of younger women. As women age it is their responsibility to provide instruction to the younger women about how to honor their God and their family. But more importantly they do this by the propriety of their own lives.

D. Finally, let’s look at Acts 9. We have the story of a woman named Dorcas who dies. She is noted as one who always did good and was helping the poor. There is great sorrow because of her death and Peter comes and through the power of God restores life to her. I want to focus on verse 39. Peter arrives to a room full of widows who are quick to show Peter the product of Dorcas’ good deeds. Can there be any greater tribute than to be able to see the product of one’s good deeds?

Application

A. There are two lessons I want to highlight as we end our teaching time. First, the call of God for the lives of women centers on the idea of dignity and honor. These ideas are found in Paul’s instructions in Timothy and Titus. What you wear; how you conduct your lives; your attitudes are to speak of the dignity and worth of not only being a woman but of the God you serve.

1. Our culture suggests that the woman who flaunts her sexuality; who takes the easy path of giving in to lusts and desires; who attracts attention to herself is freeing herself of barriers from a male dominated society. How do such things suggest freedom?

   a. How is it freedom when women are abandoned by men?

   b. How is it freedom to feel shame and dishonor?

   c. How is it freedom to be used by others for their own desires?

2. God calls women to dignity and honor. You, ladies, are of greater value and worth to listen to the world’s standards. To follow the way of the world leads to a degrading of self; it is God who wants to exalt you. God made you in his image. It is not the purpose of this lesson to decide what that includes but it at the least includes dignity, value, honor, and purity.

3. The Scriptures view women often in the context of being a wife or mother. Texts speak of her value and worth in these roles. But it isn’t getting married nor having children that suddenly brings value and worth, but it is when women reflect the holiness of God in actions and demeanor that they reveal their value and worth as a woman, a wife, and a mother.

B. Second, these texts and others reflect that God’s women are to be noted for their good deeds. Times and cultures have changed. Fewer Dorcas’ who sew for the poor remain. But the spirit of a Dorcas still remains. Those who recognize that there is great benefit to serving others. I have seen that spirit among the women here. Women who cook meals for those who are without; women who seek ways to get coats to children during the winter; women who are remind us with great frequency that we need to find ways to help those who are suffering. That spirit is found in the lives of so many women.

1. Chrysostom, who lived in the fourth century, recorded that one of his teachers, a pagan philosopher named Libanius, once said: “Heavens! What women you Christians have!” What prompted Libanius’s outburst was hearing how Chrysostom’s mother had remained chaste for more than two decades since becoming a widow at age twenty.

2. Libanius was overwhelmed by the chastity of a Christian woman.

   a. Wouldn’t it be great for non-believers to be overwhelmed by the same thing?

   b. Wouldn’t it be great that non-believers would praise our God because of the good deeds done in his name by Christian women?

   c. May our young ladies not be deceived by the message of this world. God made you a person of dignity, worth and value. Do not trade that for fleeting pleasures or believe that freedom is found in any way except through God.

   d. Prayer. Invitation.

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