What does the Bible say about women working outside the home? Whether or not a woman should work outside the home and maintain a career is a struggle for many couples and families. However, the Bible does have instructions regarding the role of women and their God given responsibilities.

In Titus 2:3-5, Paul requires a young married woman to be trained by older women as follows:

“…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.”

In this passage, the Bible is clear that when children are in the picture, that is where the young woman's responsibility lies—at home with her children. The older women are to set the example and teach the younger women about these matters while living lives that glorify God. Keeping these responsibilities in mind, an older woman's time can be spent at the Lord's leading and her discretion since her children are grown up and no longer require her time and attention.

Proverbs 31 speaks of “a wife of noble character.” Starting at verse 11, the writer praises this woman as one who does everything in her power to care for her family. She works hard to keep her house and her family in order. Verses 16, 18, 24, and 25 show that she is so industrious that she also moonlights with a cottage industry that provides additional income for her family. This woman's motivation is important in that her business activities are the means to an end, not an end in themselves. She was providing for her family, not furthering her career, or working to keep up with the neighbors. Her employment was secondary to her true calling—the stewardship of her husband, children, and home.

Conclusion

The Bible nowhere forbids a woman from working outside the home so long as she doesn't have children to care for. However, there may be circumstances where a single mom might be forced to seek work outside her home. In such cases, there is freedom in Christ. Women who work outside the home should not be condemned when certain circumstances absolutely demand it. Either way, it is important to keep the above principles in mind when resolving the question of mothers working outside the home.