As most of you know, I LOVE Debi Pearl. Her book radically changed my marriage for good. Her husband’s Bible teaching helped my husband and me understand our new lives in Christ. I gave her first edition of her book to everyone I knew!

She recently came out with a new edition. I am even on the back endorsing this book, and I still do! Anyone who reads what I write, knows this. There is one chapter in this updated version that I don’t completely agree with, and that’s okay. There’s no one I agree with 100 percent except for God and His Word. You may wholeheartedly agree with her!

The chapter is called “Proverbs 31.” On page 235, she wrote, “A virtuous woman is busy doing constructive activities. She explores business opportunities. She is saving money, making money, and investing money.” Now, if you are in desperate need of money, I encourage women to find a way to make money from home. Children need full-time mothers, and God commands women to be keepers at home. Debi agrees with this. All of a woman’s work should be in the home. But I was so overwhelmed with four little children that I had no desire to explore business opportunities, make money, or invest money. Thankfully, my husband took care of this, and it’s not a command from God.

On page 236, Debi wrote, “The worth of the virtuous woman is largely based on her cottage industry and investments, producing extra income for the family!” Wow, I definitely disagree with this. My worth comes from who I am in Christ and then walking in the Spirit in obedience to Him. I didn’t have the health nor the energy to pursue a cottage industry and produce extra income. I’m sure a lot of woman are the same. IF you have a lot of energy and can do this without neglecting your ministry to your husband, children, and home, then there’s nothing wrong with it. But it’s feminism that has convinced women that their value is in a paycheck. God commands husbands to be the providers of the family. He never commands women to provide nor make money.

On the same page, Debi wrote, “I love to see a woman discover her real worth by spreading her wings and making a contribution to her family’s finances… a woman should become industrious if she wants to be of more value than rubies.” I disagree. My family would never remember me for making some money from a cottage industry. They will remember me for the kindness and love I showed them, serving them, making their lives as good as I could for them, helping them, and investing my life into them.

On page 238, she wrote, “The success will give her confidence that she can really bless her family…I can see a shining future coming on.” This puts a heavy burden on young mothers that God didn’t intend for them to carry. I’m sure Debi didn’t mean to do this since I know she loves women, has a ton of wisdom. and writes what she believes is best for women. I just disagree with some of the things she wrote in this chapter. Her chapter on “Keepers at Home” is still excellent, as well as the rest of her book, so please don’t let this post dissuade you from buying her book and learning from her. Like I said, we won’t agree with anyone 100 percent, but I sure agree with Debi 99 percent of the time! She has had greater impact upon my life than anyone else. I am SO thankful for her.

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
1 Timothy 5:14

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***Debi did respond to this post: Thank you for the good word. I know Titus 2 has a wonderful outline for young mothers. A young wife is suddenly free from parents and thus needs to learn for herself to be discreet, chaste, sober, etc. Life is all about learning and obeying. Proverbs 31 has 11 verses of refining. It is God’s description of a virtuous woman. I have a short video on Proverbs 31 on You Tube, The DOOR, Debi Pearl. I hope you enjoy it. Here is the rest of the quote you used from my book. It helps clarify what I hoped to convene. “ATTENTION Help Meet, it’s time to become a real helper! I am NOT talking about getting a job. When a woman goes out of the home and starts working for another person or company, she becomes someone else’s helper. That is a dead end and leads toward family ruin. Don’t make that dumb mistake, Rather, I am echoing Proverbs in saying a woman should become industrious if she wants to be of more value than rubies. There is one lady of whom I always think when I speak on this subject. She has many children and still manages to do more than anyone I know. The family runs a farm with milk cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens, so her chores are many and varied. She also brings in an income by watching over (visiting regularly, taking food, cleaning up, etc.) for an old housebound man. Her parents are both old, so she also cares for them. She is too busy to go shopping without a specific purpose, so there is no wasting of her husband’s substance. She wisely invests her time, money, and resources so that what comes into the family coffers is not dribbled away. She is gracious and kind. She dresses modestly, but with simple inexpensive style. Although she is half my age, she is my living example of Proverbs 31. We can’t all be like her, but we can let her show us the way. I know another lady who takes photos, edits them and sells them on the web. While she is making a bundle on that side project, she is also homeschooling a large number of children, keeps a household, and has good meals on the table three times a day. I know a bunch of ladies that sell health products and make major money. Most of this is done at home on social networking. All of these women homeschool their children and are teaching their children ways to make an income at home.”

God bless you in your ministry. I pray for you and are greatly blessed to see other ladies stepping into giving God’s Word to the younger ladies. Debi