Have you ever taken time to consider the benefits of being a homemaker? Not just a surface look, but a real deep dive into the benefits for all of us. Should you become a traditional wife when society says to get a job and be like the cool kids? Let’s take a look at biblical homemaking and see why our Father knows best.
As we consider the benefits of traditional homemaking through the lens of modern culture, let’s focus on a few key areas of importance. We will take time to highlight the benefits of Biblical marriage in relation to our spiritual, emotional, and financial well-being. We will also look at how our entire society benefits from strong, traditional marriages as well as the negative consequences when homemaking is of low significance.
Spiritual
Often the beneficial aspect of our spiritual well-being is given little consideration. While as spiritual and eternal beings wives are responsible for our own growth, we sometimes struggle with knowing where to put effort. As our spiritual leader and closest companion, our husband is, by design, the one who can best show us areas we need to improve on, habits we struggle with, and sins we overlook.
Daily time in the Word yields immeasurable difference in our spiritual growth rate. Time spent in prayer develops our faith as we see prayers answered. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father deepens as we spend time talking with Him. How much more are these efforts increased when done within the intimacy of marriage! As you and your husband spend time together in prayer and deep discussion of spiritual matters there is an incredible, exponential growth that takes place. Not only is your spiritual development increased, but your marriage bond is also fortified to a place of impenetrable strength.
Emotional/Personal
As a traditional wife you now have only one “boss.” This man is your lover, your partner, your champion. How awesome to know that this boss has loving and providing for you at the top of his list. Personally, this gives me great joy. Emotionally, this brings me great peace.
Knowing that someone else has chosen to be responsible for all aspects of my well-being on earth is very freeing indeed. There is no cause for anxiety or worry over my own provision. No longer do I have to answer to someone else’s husband or wife as my boss as I try to struggle to please everyone. The simplicity of this hierarchy is truly a beautiful thing.
Being a homemaker gives me great freedom over my time and talents. I can choose to create within my home an atmosphere that suits our family best. On my canvas I can choose the colors that invite warmth and display beautiful treasures that reflect our love and life, not someone else’s. Once I have completed the tasks necessary to keep our home running with excellence, my time is free to develop passions and talents that my Maker has put within me. The fruit of my hands that will benefit and bless others. Because endless possibilities exist for our personal expression and emotional development it is a necessity that we use our time and plan our days wisely.
Lastly, the emotional and personal benefits to the children our homes are blessed with should also be considered. The nurture and care that a joyful mother who is there, present at home, for her children is vital for developing wholeness in every individual. When children go without the benefit of a mother in the home they will likely spend their adult lives surviving versus thriving.
Financial
The financial benefits of being married in America are still one of the best indicators of the value society once placed on this bond. Tax laws and perks weigh heavily in favor of the married couple. This financial favor should not be seen, of course, as a reason to marry, but rather one of the benefits of marriage.
Conversely, financial stress is often cited as one of the leading contributors to marital disharmony. To me, that means there is a greater opportunity for intimacy. Let’s strive to keep financial intimacy (oneness) as one of the leading pillars of strength in our homes by practicing homemaking habits that unify us with our husband in this area rather than cause division.
- Tax Credits – Married couples who choose to file their tax returns jointly often qualify for several tax credits and deductions. These income tax deductions and tax credits are greatly multiplied as children (another benefit of marriage) are added to the return as well. As you get older, the estate tax benefits do get better as well for couples blessed with a great deal of assets.
- Credit-worthiness – While there was a time in history when women simply could not obtain credit without a husband, that is no longer the case. Anecdotal evidence suggests this may not have been such a bad scenario when you consider the large number of families deeply in debt today due to the wife’s lack of wisdom (knowing not to buy what you cannot afford), lack of self-control (ability to say no to the latest trends and whims), lack of skill (inability to cook appealing meals at home or make common repairs to items rather than replacing them with new), and lack of thrift (growing/raising your own food, shopping second hand, purchasing used cars). Not all use of credit is bad. Since credit scores are not combined, married couples can often benefit when borrowing by choosing to use the credit of the spouse with the higher score when approaching the lender.
- Insurance – When applying for insurance, married couples typically qualify for lower rates on their auto and homeowner’s premiums than single coverage applicants do. Be sure to shop around for better rates once you have tied the knot.
- Benefits & Retirement – Benefits look different for every couple. Because your spouse’s employer offers benefits you will have access to these as well. These will vary greatly based on the type of employment your husband has. For example, if he is military or former military there are several excellent benefits that the wife will qualify for as well. Retirement benefits are usually at the top of this list. When looking at retirement plans, the Roth IRA allows the employed spouse a higher income limit for his contributions than he could if participating as a single. As a bonus, your employed husband can also contribute on behalf of you since the wife is usually earning no income. If you have your own home-based business, you can make your own Roth IRA contributions and still benefit as the contribution limits are still less than double that of single contributors.
- Social Security – While no one wants their spouse to die, you and your children (if any) could qualify for SSA benefits if this were to happen. You would likely be able to receive disability and retirement benefits on behalf of your deceased spouse as long as you do not remarry. The remarriage exclusion expires at age 60.
- Two May Live as Cheaply as One – When you marry, your living expenses do not double just because there are now two of you. Many costs and expenses that a single person living alone would have to shoulder can now be shared. Perhaps the best example of this is the dwelling itself. Whether your husband was renting or owned his home before you married, the cost for that housing will remain the same. You can now also save on grocery purchases by actually using instead of throwing away any excess as waste, preparing meals at home instead of dining out, sharing your streaming subscription services, club memberships, internet and utilities costs. If you know how to launder correctly your husband no longer will need to send his clothes to the cleaners. You may find there are several examples of expenses you had while living on your own that can now be shared or eliminated. Perhaps you can even get rid of a second vehicle for now. When you marry, your expenses should go down until children are added to your home.
Societal
It’s almost as if the Author understood what he was talking about when he penned the words, “a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.” Do you think the mothers of the many young people participating in the much-televised riots and looting events are proud of their children? What about the mother who is now being pressured to offer “gender-affirming care” for her precious but confused 9 year old? I am sure she wishes she had been present in her child’s life much earlier.
She probably wishes she had paid more attention to her child’s friends and entertainment choices. When we turn the care and raising of our children over to others, even good people, we give up the ability to control of those decisions. It’s that simple.
No longer is it enough for mom to be there when the kids get off the bus. Society as a whole has suffered much from parents giving control of their children’s development to others. Societal decay goes way beyond rude workers in the drive-thru and people who don’t know how to dress when they are out in public.
The Value of a Traditional Wife and Mother
Each of these daily frustrations we experience when out and about are simply indicators of a larger issue. That issue literally is that someone’s mama didn’t teach them any manners. Someone’s mother didn’t’ teach them how to dress to show respect for themselves and others. Someone’s mama didn’t correct him when he hit his sister. Where are the mamas? If we are at our job then we are not with our children.
When the state of our public education system is put under close examination we see that they have increasingly become more a revenue source for the states and government indoctrination centers for the nation as a whole than a place to train leaders with a biblical worldview. To combat this, more and more families are choosing to educate their children at home. You and your husband should give this matter much prayer before you marry as it impacts much of your homemaking life.
Often the path to losing our children begins when they are just infants. When you don’t know any better you just do what it seems everyone else does. At the time you do what is considered normal because you are not yet brave enough or strong enough to flex your new mama muscles. You put little Emmie in daycare and head off to your job like a good little worker. You think you are going to “make it happen” since you don’t have caring for that baby on your to-do list.
You don’t know what you don’t know. Now that you know differently, DO NOT have any shame or guilt about the past. Confess your arrogance and pride, ask for wisdom, and do better. Do differently. You have the ability to help shape and change society by your choices. Start with your home. Once you get your feet under you, assist others on their journey. It can happen one home at a time.
Relishing the Benefits of Traditional Marriage
Many of the financial benefits of marriage are due to restraint and sacrifice rather than because of excess. The critics of traditional marriage roles and being a “trad wife” often complain that this lifestyle is for “wealthy white women” only. Traditional marriage exists all over the world with many different faces. Here in America is perhaps the most difficult place to be a traditional wife because we see “all of the things” and think we must have them now.
As women we were designed with a very clever nature. We are intuitively creative because we bear the image of the One who created us. Our time and efforts should be put to pursuits that we find beneficial, enjoyable, and productive. Yes, you can take a peek on social media for ideas, then stop. Get up and go do something that makes a difference. Do not allow yourself to drown in a sea of covetousness and envy. You can make, you can fix, you can grow, you can give.
Resist the urge to have and do what everyone else seems to. Do you really want to report to that boss? Do you really want to wear that wardrobe? Do you really want to juggle all that mess? Remember your calling.
The truth is we usually can have most of what we want when we are patient, persistent, and most of all passionate about living this modern life as our Creator intended us to. Our homes and families will blossom, our husbands will be loved well, and we too will experience the joy and abundance that comes from obedience to our calling. You will discover that this is the greatest benefit of all when you become a traditional wife.