Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 2:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:12
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)
This Scripture is speaking to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. That is seeing and believing in their hearts that Christ died for their sin. Every saved person is an ambassador for Him. This is for women as well as men. We are all ambassadors for Him, to represent Him here in this life.
However, the Lord has laid out different ministries for men and women to be carried out here on this earth. Our first Scripture reading, 1 Timothy 2:11-12, is often misunderstood. Some have taken this to mean that a woman should not utter a word, be mute. The word “silence” here means quietness. This is translated as “quietness” in 2 Thessalonians. 3:12.
As we have seen in previous lessons, women are told to show forth the hidden one of the heart, even “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price” (1 Pet. 3:1-3). Also, women are to be in “behaviour as becoming holiness” (Titus 2:3-5). This should be our attitude in the work of the Lord. The explanation of 1 Timothy 2:11, when it is said for “women to learn in silence and subjection,” is fully explained in the very next verse.
“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim. 2:12)
Women then as ambassadors for the Lord, are not to take the lead or places of authority over the men in the work of the Lord. This would include the fact that women are not to be pastors over congregations. I believe the Scripture is perfectly clear that the men are to take the leadership in the services of the Lord.
Now let’s look at many of the wonderful things the Lord has given us, as women, the privilege of doing. We have already seen in other lessons, how women can teach and help “train up a child in the way he should go.” This would be our own children, but also other children. Many women have given their lives to this ministry—teaching classes of boys and girls, having mid-week Bible Classes for children, teaching in Vacation Bible Schools and Bible camps, etc. This is not only a privilege, but a responsibility that women have. What a blessing! Women can be teachers of other women, filling the great need of helping younger women to see their responsibilities to their own children and to others. The church and the home should surely be working together in this.
However we find that children are in the home, under parents guidance, as much as 83% of their “growing-up years.” These same statistics will show that they are in worship services only about 1% and in the schools about 16%. Surely there are some years where our greatest “service” for the Lord would be in our homes.
There are many other ways that women can serve in the work of the Lord. Music is a great ministry which many women do in the work of the Lord. I have been blessed also to see how many women quietly minister to the elderly, widows, the sick, and others. Women have worked as volunteers in the office of the churches, helping with mail-outs, etc. There is no end to the ministry we all can have if we observe Colossians 3:17 and 23,
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3:17)
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Col. 3:23)
