What are Women For

Introduction

We are continuing our series on Biblical Womanhood today.

We are laying some more groundwork about the identity of women by asking the question, “What are Women For?”

We want to put this question to God’s word and hear Him above all else.

A Fundamental Difference

She is a help to man (Gen. 2:18; cf. Ex. 18:4; Psa. 146:5).

What we learn here is that help means just that.

It does not speak to submission or dominion.

It does, however, speak to purpose.

Her help is unique (Gen. 2:20; 1 Tim. 2:15).

One of the most glaring uniquenesses of women is the womb.

Her whole biology screams mother.

Society has done much to suppress this reality.

The order of creation communicates roles (1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Cor. 11:7-9).

The order was not random.

The roles that come from that order are not random.

This is not like birth order but involves created realities.

Submission is not dishonor (1 Cor. 11:7; cf. Matt. 5:17; Gen. 45:13).

When a man does not fulfill his role of glory but his wife does, this is a misery (1 Sam. 25) - Abigail and Nabal

But a man who brings glory with a wife who brings glory is a beautiful picture admired by all who see it (Prov. 31:10-31).

Preferences and Patterns

We want to leave room for exceptions (1 Cor. 7:26-28).

But we want to praise and appreciate the ideal (1 Tim. 5:9-10).

“No woman should be authorized to stay at home to raise her children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make it.” - Simone de Beauvior

"No one wants kids anymore. I don’t like children at all. They are noisy, they smell, and they’re expensive.”

We don’t want to develop an animosity toward gender norms (Deut. 22:5; 1 Cor. 11:14-15).

If I were to offer anyone $1M to draw a picture of a girl, what would they draw?

Lot’s of variables, but they are not infinitely variable.

Even female adornment is viewed as normal and right but obviously tinged with danger (Ezek. 16:10-13; 1 Pet. 3:3-4).

Exceptions are not endorsements (Jdg. 4:4-5; Isa. 3:12).

Conclusion

Sometimes people acknowledge these truths about women while putting them into the category of mere preference.

It is not enough to say “this is okay.” We must (with God) proclaim this is good (as all creation is good).

Part of learning to serve God, is learning to trust that He knows me better than I do.

We must all acknowledge that my personal preferences are at a minimum subservient to His will and in many cases ought to be dispensed with altogether.

My goal is to be what He wants me to be even more than what I want me to be.