Women’s ministries are of vital importance. #1: If she has brought up children...

1 Timothy 5:9- Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 – well reported for good works: [#1] if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

A woman taking her role in serving the body of Messiah is of very great importance. She is not considered to be ‘taken into the number’ of those that are widows unless she is ‘well reported for good works’. Some of the works are examined next.

The first

Good work’ mentioned is very important: bringing up children. This might not even be thought of as an act of service or ministry to the assembly. However, we cannot separate the ministry of family and the assembly. Children are part of the assembly also, and the way they are raised will have a powerful affect on the assembly. They are the first and most important ministry and should not take second place to others. Motherhood is a most essential ministry to the body of Messiah! Women have a very important role as mothers and without it, the home will most likely fail. When the home fails, the whole assembly fails. When the assembly is full of failed and broken homes, you have a failed and broken assembly. It is a lie when an assembly tries to convey itself as having unity, while the homes are full of women who do not submit to their husbands. For if the homes aren’t in unity, then neither is the assembly. But when an assembly is full of homes which are in order, dedicated to serving and loving one another…then you have an assembly of great power and glory. Then you have an assembly that is an accurate and beautiful example of the Messiah to all the world. The behavior of men and women at home affects the assembly because the assembly is simply the people therein!

Therefore:

Proverbs 14:1- Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

A woman can tear down or build up her home, and thus an assembly. She tears down by dishonoring her husband, fighting her husband, and trying to lead her husband. She builds up by being an example to her children of [a] how to submit to authority, how to honor authority and [b] how to live in humility when she honors, submits and remains humble before her husband. The children can learn how to be a rebel like satan, OR, how to be a child of Yahuwah through her example. Daily, she has the choice of whether she will give into the same temptation as Eve or walk in the role that Yahuwah created her to walk in. There is much more to say regarding motherhood. A full study on this subject can be found here.