What Does the Bible Say About..Working Mothers?

What does the bible say about moms who work and/ or go to school when they have children? Are they only supposed to be stay at home moms? Also about women working and husbands staying at home?

Answer

Nowhere does the Bible specify that a woman should not work or go to school outside the home, with or without children. This is probably because that is a modern phenomenon that would not have been directly addressed then. The closest thing to any scripture saying that a woman should stay at home is Titus 2:4-5. “That they [older women] may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober-minded, chaste, busy at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” The phrase “busy at home” (or “workers at home” in the King James Version) is probably in contrast to being a busybody in other people’s business. I don’t think that it prohibits her from working outside the home.

One other passage in particular seems to indicate that a woman of value may work outside the home. Proverbs 31:10-31 talks about the “virtuous woman” or “woman of valor.” Verse 16 says, “She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” That may be considered working at home, or it may not. In either case, she is involved in commerce and property management. She also sells merchandise she makes. “She makes fine linen and sells it; and delivers belts to the merchant.” (verse 24) This indicates she is doing more than just housework and watching the children.

In today’s society it may be necessary for a woman to work outside the home just to make a decent living. Or she may be able to make a better living than her husband (either because she has a profession or because he is unable to work). In either case, I find nothing in the Bible to prohibit her from working outside the house, or a husband being at home while she does so. A woman may want or need to further her education. In many cases in the United States today a woman needs to go to school so she can work, because there is no husband. I find nothing prohibiting a woman from going to school, just as I find nothing prohibiting her from working outside the home.

I do qualify that with one thought. It is the responsibility of the parents (both parents) to raise and educate the children. Even if it is necessary for both parents to work or one goes to school, they still have that responsibility. If a child must be put in childcare while the mother works, she should spend extra time with the child when she is not working (as should the father). Both parents should make sure that the childcare or school are teaching what they would want the child to learn. They should not let day care or school be a substitute for the parents. This is my opinion.