____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 23, 1997 ____________________________________________________ The Worth Of A Woman by Morris D. Norman The monetary value of a housewife has been determined by the American Council of Life Insurance 17,351 annually (1988). Parents Magazine (August 1979) set the figure at 35,000 per annum. These figures take into consideration the hours spent in accomplishing her task with the expertise needed in order to get the job done. These figures, of course, look at her job strictly from the monetary standpoint and if one had to ``hire'' someone to do all the things that an average housewife does, the figures may not be out of line. We may look at Proverbs 31 and see a composite of what a worthy woman is and we can see her worth. It is far above rubies. We may ``hire'' someone to do a great many of her tasks, but we could never replace with a hireling the care, love and devotion that the worthy woman has for that household. Because of her emotional involvement with her family she gives of herself. There is no value that can be placed on that. A woman may look at Proverbs 31 and wonder how she may live up to the model that is there presented. Perhaps the writer saw this in his own mother as he looked in retrospect. Who could not do this in his own mother? We husbands need to look objectively at our wives and see their worth and ``praise them in the gates.'' We children need to ``rise up and call'' our mothers blessed. Women should look at these verses, not as a ``goal'' that could never be reached and therefore become discouraged, but rather as a guideline by which to mold their lives as homemakers. As she takes on her role she will reach, to some degree, what is pictured here as the years go by. The dedicated Christian will be found developing as she grows in the Lord. As a woman looks at her ``monetary'' wealth, what are her reactions? Does she become discouraged, thinking that she is not appreciated; that she has the talents to make so much more on the job market; that she could better fulfill herself if she went out of the home to use her talents? This is what the ``women's lib'' would have her to believe. Perhaps this is why we have so many dissatisfied women today in this country. They have been led to believe that being ``just a housewife'' is degrading in some way. And that could be the conclusion reached if we be taken up in this materialistic society. But the worthy woman does not look at her role from a monetary viewpoint. She looks at it from the value of human lives. She is a very vital link in an orderly society, she is the stability of the home, and therefore the nation and the world. She is the ``right combination of laughter and tears, tenderness and determination, beauty and self-discipline...a companion, best friend, lover, healer of hurts, cleaner-upper and tucker-in-er.'' She is the balance of the home. The well adjusted women can look at her ``worth'' and profit. She needs self-esteem and this can be a vital source. There is no one that can replace you at any cost, this is wisdom, learn. -- Via Stand, December 1996 ___________________________________________ "You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Pet. 3:7). "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25). ___________________________________________ ``What is the Value of One Member?'' Ten little members standing in a line, One disliked the president, then there were nine. Nine ambitious members offered to work late, One forgot her promise, then there were eight. Eight creative members had ideas good as heaven, One lost enthusiasm, then there were seven. Seven loyal members got into a fix, They quarreled over programs, then there were six. Six members remained with spirit and drive, One moved away, then there were five. Five steadfast members wished there were more, One became indifferent, then there were four. Four cheerful members who never disagree, `till one complained of meetings, then there were three. Three eager members! What do they do? One got discouraged, then there were two. Two lonely members; our rhyme is nearly done, One joined a sports group, then there was one. One faithful member was feeling rather blue-- Met with a friend, then there were two. Two earnest members each enrolled one more-- Doubling their numbers, and then there were four. Four determined members just couldn't wait-- `till each won another, then there were eight! Eight excited members signed up sixteen more; In another six verses, there'll be a thousand twenty-four. -- Selected (The Old Path II, January 5, 1997) ___________________________________________ As the song asks, "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?" Well? ___________________________________________ ``Women Keep Silence'' by Robert F. Turner ``Please discuss `Women keep silence' of 1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:11-12.'' Women may teach: Acts 2:18; 18:26; 21:9; Titus 2:3-4, etc., hence, the ``silence'' must be qualified. Nor may we say she must be ``silent'' in the ``assembly''; for she teaches and admonishes when she sings (Col. 3:16), and 1 Tim. 2:11-12 certainly is not limited to ``the assembly.'' (Note ``modest apparel,'' vs. 9, and ``faith, charity, holiness,'' vs. 16; showing that vs. 11-f. are of more general application.) Notice the italics in 1 Cor. 14:34. That indicates words supplied. ``Not to speak, but to be in subjection'' -- this is the core of the text, and the ``but'' qualifies the ``not.'' Women are not to speak beyond the point of being in subjection. Particularly, the wives of the prophets needed this admonition, for confusion over prophets ``showing off'' their gifts occasioned this section of the epistle. Other ``Not-But'' Passages Read 1 Cor. 1:17; 1 Pet. 3:3; Jn. 6:27, etc. Labor NOT for meat that perisheth, BUT for everlasting life. The ``not'' is qualified, otherwise it would be wrong to work for food. Such passages may be greatly multiplied. We are not at liberty to put a period in the middle of a thought --to declare a full negative what God has given as a qualified negative. Ignore qualifications, and I Cor. 14:28 forbids a man to speak also. Women's ``silence'' must be qualified. Application of a Principle God is over Christ, Christ is over man, and man is over woman. This basic truth is applied in 1 Cor. 11:3-f. with reference to custom of covering; and is applied in 1 Cor. 14: with reference to prophecy meetings; and in 1 Tim. 2:11-12 with reference to women demeanor in general teaching and learning situations. The word translated ``silence'' in 1 Tim. 2:11-12 K.J.V. is ``quietness'' in A.R.V., and is indicative of spirit or disposition. In keeping with the ``headship'' of man, woman is to ``learn in quietness with all subjection.'' Teaching Children, Other Women The principle (above) and examples of its application would forbid women to preach to men, or to dominate or control a class where men were present. (This has not to do with intelligence--who is ``smarter,'' but with a God-given order clearly stated.) Women are free to teach children, or other women--or to participate in studies with men as long as they observe and function within the sphere God assigned them. Their Sphere Begets Glory Christ was under God--remember! (1 Cor. 11:3). He rejoiced to pray, ``I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do'' (Jn. 17:4). And women, under men, may likewise give glory to God by serving faithfully as appointed (1 Tim. 2:15). May God help us all do likewise. -- Via Stand, December 1996 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES I was sadden to hear of the death of Grover Stevens, who passed away last Friday afternoon at the church building in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where he had been preaching for several years. In a previous ``News & Notes'' a few months ago, it was mentioned of a stroke he had had which he was recovering from. I have not yet learned what the cause for his death was. Truly, all who knew this man will greatly miss him. He was a wonderful servant of the Lord. Soon after becoming a Christian, I was greatly helped by his tract, Why I Left The Baptist Church, which I'm sure has been widely read; and I was also privileged to hear him speak at the Florida College lectureship one year. Another preacher who passed away just days ago was Rufus Clifford Sr. His funeral was Saturday in Columbia, Tennessee. I also enjoyed hearing this man hold a gospel meeting in Sciotoville, Ohio, several years ago. He had preached for 50 years or more, but the Alzheimer's disease he suffered for the last year and a half had caused the decline in his health. Recently I heard from Carolyn Shepherd who enjoys reading our weekly bulletin and keeps many of them. Her mother (Woodie Combs), whom she had been caring for, passed away January 1 of this year. Carolyn writes, ``She lived to see all her 8 children die, except me.'' Let us be praying for the family and friends. And, also, Carolyn, who was recently hospitalized for her heart and sugar diabetes, can use our prayers as well, that she might continue to be well. (She is back home now.) Also for our prayers is Les Atkinson. I was talking with him Saturday and found out that he is still having the vertigo problem. So far, the doctors have not been able to discover the source for this; but they have pretty much ruled out any inner ear disturbance. Let us be praying for the family and friends of those who have passed on, and for these mentioned with their ailments. Being the last Sunday of the month, we will have our ``sing night'' tonight. Be sure to inform one of the song leaders before the service of any song request you would like to make. We had 16 visitors with us during January, and our average for all of `96 was 15.5 different guests per month. If you are here today for the first time, we want you to know that we greatly appreciate your taking the time to be with us. We pray that the service will be a real blessing for you and that you'll be back with us again soon. If you live nearby and would like to see Bible film slides in your home, write or call today. We would be happy to make this available for you. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net Gospel Observer Homepage: http://www.wwd.net/user/tedwards/go ________________________________________