Busybodies Make Lousy Keepers at Home!

Busybodies Make Lousy Keepers at Home

By Stacy McDonald

Most ladies that will have an interest in reading an article with such a title as this will agree on one point: God's design for the Christian wife is that she be a keeper at home. What does that mean? One component of being a keeper at Home is that she be discreet and chaste. Another is that she live in sobriety while loving, honoring and being obedient to the husband God provides for her. Also, a Keeper at Home will faithfully care for her own children and train them up in the Lord. These are basic living instructions to us in our role as wives. There is much more, but these basics should not be disputed. These things are taught to us so that the Word of God should not be blasphemed.

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:4-5

In contrast, have you ever wondered why women tend to be the ones that are portrayed in movies gossiping on the telephone or peeking out their front window to see what the neighbor is up to? Have you ever noticed that little girls seem to be the biggest tattle tales of all? Do you remember in high school, the long telephone conversations with girlfriends over who was dating whom, who wore what, who was a snob, or who did what to whom and when and your own version of why? Women, especially those not under the proper authority of their husband or father, seem to have an immense propensity for idle, foolish talk. Not that the male gender can't be just as guilty of such activity, but women seem to have a certain weakness for this particular type of sin. Let us examine why this is and then consider how to avoid it.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:6

Eve began to "listen" to Satan. She pondered his words and justified in her mind why his cunning and slithery words may be true. Genesis 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." Eve may have considered that she had possibly "misunderstood" what God had really meant! Maybe His Words had a different or "hidden" translation. In fact, maybe her husband needed her to teach him this "new translation" of God's hidden meanings! ".and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:5 He obviously hadn't thought of such things as what the serpent had suggested! What tantalizing wisdom this beautiful creature seemed to posses. As she entertained these foolish and vain thoughts, she turned her thoughts from God's Word to Satan's lies.and she believed a lie. Eve, although accountable for her own sin, did not transgress out of open rebellion as did her husband, but she was deceived.

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2-3

What is a silly woman? Scripture describes a silly woman as a woman who is foolish and weighed down with a sinful life.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:6-7

Could this possibly describe the feminist of today's modern world? The women who "have it all together," who mock the thought of being a keeper at home, who disdain the thought of giving up a fulfilling career to stay home with babies that simply tie them down. Could it tell the story of women who live immorally and possibly flaunt their college education trusting in their own intellect while their life and relationships reflect moral and spiritual failure? More than that, it could describe women who are seduced into abusive relationships to men who love evil, alcoholics, drug addicts, child molesters or men who beat their wives. Could these women be deceived?

What is a busybody? Scripture definitely lets us know that being one is something we want to avoid!

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
1 Timothy 5:13

Notice here that the busybody goes from house to house to spread her gossip and strife like a cancer. We see that she's not only "idle" but she's also a "tattler" and speaks what she should not! Scripture warns us to look well to our own household and to not be "idle."

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:27

If we have so much time available to discuss others or listen to others being discussed, then maybe we need to examine whether or not we are being idle. We need to be aware that we may be in danger of becoming a busybody. Is our house clean? Are our children properly cared for? Is the laundry done? Is our husband happy? Is that dinner carefully prepared or is it thrown together in a mad dash to get something on the table at the last minute? Maybe we can get our most honest answer from our husbands or our children. Will they say, "Actually, Mom, it seems like you're on the phone all the time." Or "Honey, I asked you to make sure my laundry was finished. But it seems you were on the computer too long today because I have no clean underwear."

What were you discussing Oh Wife? Was your conversation edifying? Did you write it down in your prayer journal? Were you praying for God to search your heart, looking for hidden sin? Were you on your face before God repenting? Were you busy with your children or trying to please your husband? Were you teaching younger women and encouraging them to love their husbands and children? Were you being discreet?

Or, Oh Wife, were you busy being deceived? Were you pondering the words of a talebearer while you stepped over the laundry? Were you passing on "juicy morsels" when your husband walked into the house full of dirty dishes and disheveled children? Were you allowing others to deceive you with vain words or flattery?

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
II Thessalonians 3:11-12

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:6-8

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:36-37

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14

If we know more about (or at least think we do) what is going on in someone else's household, ministry or marriage than we do our own, then chances are we are in danger of being a busybody. Learn how to spot a busybody as well and beware of listening to their endless ramblings.

TPW Challenge:

Consider this checklist honestly, after prayer and honest reflection. The Busybody's Checklist:

1. A busybody is more concerned with other people's matters than she is her own. You will notice that she knows everything about everyone. She has the "scoop" on just about anyone you mention. 1 Peter. 4:3
2. A busybody is disorderly. Her house will be disorganized. Housework will be overwhelming and children will most likely be out of control. (By the way, not everyone who doesn't have or hasn't been taught organizational skills is a busybody!) 2 Thessalonians. 3:11
3. A busybody does not do the work that God has called her to do. She either refuses to do what should be done or is too tired or overwhelmed to complete any one task properly. Either housework, requests from her husband, or family business tasks will not be tended to because she has been busy learning to be idle. 2 Thessalonians 3:11
4. A busybody learns to be idle. How do we "learn" a specific "skill?" Practice! A busybody will consistently ignore her God-given tasks and will in fact "learn" to be idle. You will notice that they seem to be constantly "busy" although nothing ever gets done! They seem to be frantic and tired most days, but if you check with their families, they have nothing to show for their busyness! 1 Timothy 5:13
5. A busybody goes from house to house "tattling." We can go from "house to house" in many ways these days! We have the telephone, fax machine, grocery store, homeschooling groups, playgroups, church, and the most dangerous - email!!!!

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
II Thessalonians 3:12

Paul seems to be saying, "Be quiet and mind your own business," don't you think?

May the Lord, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, help us all learn to apply this Challenge to our lives and may God bless you this week as you seek to live a life dedicated to Him.

Blessings,

Amanda